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Early History of Atlantic County 
New Jersey 



RECORD OF THE FIRST YEAR'S WORK OF 

ATLANTIC COUNTY'S HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 



PUBLISHED AND COPYRIGHTED BY THE SOCIETY 

1915 



LAURA LAVINIA THOMAS WILUS, ") 

y EDITORS 
MRS. L. DOW BALLIETT, - - J 

MRS. M. R. M. FISH, - - ASST. EDITOR 



PRESS OF THE KUTZTOWN PUBLISHING COMPANY 
KTJTZTOWN, PA. 



^A EA K 



APR II 1916 



-^ 



iCl,A427630 






ILLUSTRATIONS 



Page 

In the Days of Yore 7 

How the First Inhabitant Lived and What He Saw 22 

The Mill at Bargaintown 60 

Daniel Baker '. 70 

Richard Somers — 'Hero of Tripoli 73 

Pleasant Mills 77 

'Mill Dam and 'Falls at May's Landing 94 

Zion M. E. Church, Bargaintown 101 

Old Church at Head of the River Tuckahoe 104 

Aetna Furnace, Tuckahoe River 106 

The Old 'Log Meeting House at Weymouth 109 

Stephen Colwell 110 

Charles Richards Colwell Ill 

'Friendship Church, Near Landisville , 115 

Catawba Church 126 

Catawba Graves 129 

Roman Catholic Church at Pleasant Mills 142 

The Old Buttomwoods 158 



(3) 



INDEX 



Page 

Original Land Grants of New Jersey 8 

Titles to Land 9 

Letter from William Penn to Richard Hartshorne 12 

Proprietors' Instructions to James Wasse and 'Richard Hartshorne. 14 

Proprietors' Instructions to James Wasse and 'Richard Hartshorne. 19 

The Land System of West Jersey 23 

West Jersey Commissioners 23 

New Jersey Signers of Independence 23 

Newspapers of New Jersey During the Revolution 23 

Officers and Men of New Jersey in Revolutionary War 24 

War With France 52 

War With Tripoli 52 

Earl Moral Laws of New Jersey 53 

Indians 55 

Indian Burying Grounds 56 

Cranberry Indian Legend 57 

Slaves in New Jersey 58 

Slaves at Bargaintowm 59 

Some Old Wills 61 

Old Gloucester County 67 

Daniel Baker 69 

The Old Fort at Somers Point 72 

Carding Mill 74 

Clark's Old Log Meeting House at Pleasant Mills 76 

The Calling of the Militia for the War of 1812-1815 78 

Artillery Company, Third Regiment, Glou,cester Brigade 79 

Company of Infantry, First Regiment, Gloucester Brigade 82 

Atlantic County jj6 

The Naming of Atlantic County 9I 

Origin of Town Names 9I 

May's Landing 93 

Anecdotes of Place Name.*^ 95 

Naming Uncle Tom's 96 

Shore Road 97 

Presbyterians in New Jersey 93 

Blackman's Meeting House at Bargaintown 101 

Head of the River Church IO3 

History of Tuckihoe Baptist Church IO7 

Old Church at Weymouth IQg 

History of Friendship Church II4 

(4) 



INDEX— CONTINUED 5 

Page 

M. E. Church in Port Republic 124 

Catawba Church 126 

Zion M. E. Church 130 

Frambes School House, Followed by Salem M. E. Church 134 

Roman Catholics ^41 

Quakers — ^^Friends 149 

Extracts from Records Friends Society of Great Egg 'Harbour, 

N. J 151 

Historical Notes 156 

The Old Ruttonwoods 157 

Pulaski's Ride 159 

Early Ship Building 161 

An Old Stage Line 162 

Stage 'Route from Absecon to Philadelphia 164 

Place Names 167 

The Whipping Post 171 

Black Luce 172 

History of the Society 174 

Annual Meet of Historians 178 



PREFACE 



In offering you this initial volume of Atlantic County's 
History, the Society reminds you this is the product of their 
first year's work and in no wise a finished history. Its endeavor 
has been to lay a firm foundation, upon which other books which 
are to follow can be erected. 

You will find within its pages the early history of the State 
taken from written histories which had their bearing upon Atlantic 
County. Also articles written by the descendants of those who 
helped to make the history of the county worth reading. The 
thread of events will be continued through separate volumes in 
the future until the history of the present day is recorded. There 
is found little history in this book later than 1825-1830. It was 
a somewhat difficult task to separate the history of Atlantic 
County from that of Gloucester, as they were one until the year 
of separation in 1837. If you enjoy reading this book as much 
as the Society has in its compiling, truly the work has not been 
in vain. 

The Society acknowledges its indebtedness to Air. A. AI. 
Heston for illustration taken from his book, "Absequawon," 
and to John Hall's "Daily Union History of Atlantic City, N. J.'^ 

Ati^antic County Historic.\l Society. 



(6) 




In The Days of Yorh— 1667 



Early History of Atlantic County, N. J. 



ORIGINAL LAND GRANTS OF NEW JERSEY 

The original grant of New Jersey from King Charles II, 
when separated from the Netherland, was East and 'West Jersey. 
They were united in 1673 and were known as Nova-Caesarea or 
New Jersey. This work, being the history of x\tlantic County, re- 
lates only to West Jersey. 

1671. The line of partition, long known in boundary disputes 
as the "Providence Line," extending from ijttle Egg Harbor to 
40°, 41° north latitude to the Delaware River, north of a line 
drawn from Barnegat Creek, "about the middle between Sandy 
Point and Cape May" — and adjoining to and below a certain 
creek in the Delaware River called Ran-ko-kus — Kill. 

In order to have a comprehensive understanding of West Jer- 
sey, of which Atlantic County is a j^art. it is necessary to go back 
to the grants of land and their distributions to later purchasers. 
Under the English system, newly acquired lands were the property 
of the king, who disposed of them by grants to private persons, or 
by charter to land companies. New Jersey thus came into the 
possession of two different individuals, each having one half the 
province. These two men were Sir George Carteret, former 
Governor of the Isle of Jersey and Lord lierkeley*. In June. 
1673, Lord Berkley sold his share to John Fenwick in trust for 
Edward Byllings, for the sum of one thousand pounds and an 
annual royalty of forty beaver skins. Edward Byllings, the 
Quaker owner of West Jersey, failed. He placed his property, in 
1675, ^'^to the hands of William Penn, Gawen Lawrie, and Nich- 
olas Lucas, (the latter two were creditors,) and Byllings himself, 
thus creating four trustees. 



* New Jersey was iiaine'1 in honor pf Sir George Carteret's defense, in 1649, of his 
native Isle of Jersey, when attacked by the army and navy of the Parliamentarians.— 
Page i2q. Vol. I, l,ee's History. 

(8) 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 9 

1673. The i8th of March. It has been stated that Lord 
Berkley, one of tlie original proprietors of New Jersey, disposed 
of the whole of his right and interest in the province. The pur- 
chase was made by John Fenwick. They gave the sum of one 
thousand pounds. These persons were members of the Society 
of Quakers, or Friends, a religious people who had experienced 
much opposition and persecution, and there is reason to believe 
that a principal object proposed by Fenwick and Byllings in mak- 
ing their purchase was to secure a place of retreat for themselves 
and their religious associates. 

1738. New Jersey petitioned for a distinct administration, 
and Lewis Morris was appointed Governor. 

Li 1682 West Jersey was purchased by William Penn and 
eleven other Quakers, and settlements were made at Burlington 
■ — -"Ye falls of ye Delaware," or Trenton, and a flourishing whal- 
ing station established at Cape May, not to mention Salem, al- 
ready a growing town. (In 1682, Robert Barclay, a Scotchman, 
was the first Governor under the new proprietors.) 

Li 1702, by the number of proprietors, the frequent sub-divi- 
sions and transfers of shares, and various difficulties in the way 
of good government, soon involved the province in trouble, and 
the proprietors surrendered the rights of government to the 
Crown. 

1703. East and West Jersey were united and was then 
known as New Jersey. 

1677 — 1687. The minutes and papers of the Commissioners 
are missing. 

Titles to Land. 

Titles to land in New Jersey are derived from the English 
Crown. It is a principle of law, recognized by all the European 
governments, that an uninhabitated country, or a country inhab- 
ited only by savages, of which possession is taken under the 
authority of an existing government, becomes the property of the 
country taking possession. 

The Indian title to the land in America was to some extent 
recognized, but the government here, and in England, has always 
asserted the exclusive right to extinguish that title and to give a 
valid title to settlers bv its own grant of the soil. Individuals were 



lO EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUXTY, X. J. 

forl)i(l(lcn to purchase land from the In(Hans without the consent 
of the Enghsh proprietor, at an early date, both in East and West 
Jersey, and after the surrender of the government to the Crown, 
deeds from Indian claimants are held by some of the present 
owners in both divisions of the State, but unless patents or sur- 
veys were also obtained the legal titles to the premises rests upon 
possession and not upon deeds. 

The general proprietors were careful to purchase the land oi 
the Indians, and except in those cases in East Jersey where grants 
were made subject to an extinguishment of the Indian title, they 
refused to allow grants or surveys until this was done. Every 
foot of the soil claimed by the original inhabitant of this State has 
been obtained from them by a fair and voluntary purchase and 
transfer. 

After the division of East and West Jersey, East Jersey was 
conveyed to t^venty-four proprietors and West Jersey was sold in 
hundredths. The original grants were considered by the pro- 
prietors as conveying a right of government as well as soil, and 
they instituted separate governments, but in 1702 joined in sur- 
rendering that right to the Crown. The title to the soil was not 
surrendered and continues to be derived through the original pro- 
prietors, bv regular descent or i)urchase, to the present day. 

(1845-) 

There are two kinds of grants, one where a gift was made to 
actual settlers at the beginning of the history of the colon\-, where 
by the "grants and concessions" the amount of land donated 
to a settler depended upon the number of individuals in his family, 
with an additional amount fur each servant brought with the 
family into the jirovince ; these were called "head lands"; the 
other kind of a grant was acquired b\' this process : A warrant, 
signed by the Governor and a majority of the council, was de- 
livered to the surveyor-general, who surveyed the lands, made his 
return in writing, showing his survey and giving a description of 
the ])roperty. IJoth warrant and return were recorded by the 
register. If there were no objections to the warrant, it was then 
issued, signed by the Governor and his council, authenticated by 
the great seal of the province, and this warrant was then recorded 
and the title of land was perfected. This was the process in 
East Jersey. Xo patents were issued in West Jersey. — The Judi- 
cial and Civil History of Xczi' Jersey. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



FROM SMITH'S HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY 

In June, 1673, John Lord Berkeley sold his share to John 
Fenwick in trust for Edward Byllinge for the sum of one thou- 
sand pounds and an annual royalty of forty beaver skins. Fen- 
wick, in 1675, set sail from London in a ship called the Griffith 
or Griffin ; landing at a pleasant spot near Delaware, he named 
it Salem. With him he brought his two daughters, who later 
married Samuel Hedge and John Adams, two servants ; other 
passengers were Edward Champness, Richard Hancock, John 
Matlock, Samuel Nichols, Hipolite Lufever, Richard Noble, 
Richard Guy, John Pledger, Edward Wade, Samuel Wade, and 
John Smith and wife. These and others with them were masters 
of families. This was the first English ship that came to West 
Jersey. 

Gov. Andres, who saw in the coming of Fenwick an oppor- 
tunity to extend the influence of the Duke of York, issued an 
order that Fenwick be not received as owner of lands on the 
Delaware ; and that no privilege or freedom of custom or trading 
on the eastern shore of the ba}' or river be permitted. A warrant 
was issued for Fenwick's arrest by the Duke of York's officers 
at New Castle, Del. He was afterwards released on parole and 
returned to Salem, called by the Duke of York's followers 
"Swamptown" in derision. 

About this time it was learned that Edward Byllinge pro- 
cured this conveyance for Fenwick to avoid his creditors ; con- 
sequently this led to an investigation in regard to aiTairs and the 
final discovery of his intentional defrauding of his creditors. 
Byllinge having admitted the truth, a settlement was made 
whereby Fenwick relinquished all but one-tenth of the grant. 
William Penn, Gawen Lawrie. and Nicholas Lucas, creditors, were 
placed in control of the balance as trustees of Byllinge. They 
soon sold a number of shares of their propriety to difl^erent ])ur- 
chasers, who thereu])on became proprietors in common with 
them. It now became necessary that a scheme should be devised 
for a better distribution of rights to land so as to promote set- 
tlement and ascertain a form of government. Consequently con- 
cessions were drawn, mutually agreed on and signed by some 
of the subscribers. It now became the duty of the original pro- 



12 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

prietors to procure a division of the province, after which they 
wrote the following letter as an expedient for the present well 
ordering matters. Of the twelve proprietors Wm. Penn headed 
the list and wrote the following letter : 



Letter from William Penn to Richard Hartshorne 

London, 26th of the 6th Month, 1676. 

''W'c have made use of thy name in a commission and in- 
;;tructions, which we have sent b}' James Wasse, who is gone in 
Samuel Groome's ship for Maryland, a copy of which is here 
inclosed, and also a copy of a letter which we have sent to John 
Fenwick, to be read to him in presence of as many of the people 
that went with him as may be ; and because we both expect, and 
also entreat, and desire thy assistance in the same, we will shew 
things to thee, that thou may inform not only thyself, hut friends 
there, which in short is as follows : 

"ist. We have divided with George Cartaret, and havf 
sealed deeds of partition, each to the other ; and we have all that 
side on Delaware river from one end to the other. The line of 
partition is from the east side of little Egg Harbour, straight 
North, through the country, to the utmost branch of the Dela- 
ware river, with all powers, privileges, and immunities whatso- 
ever. Ours is called New West Jersey, his is called New East 
Jersey. 

"2. We have made concessions by ourselves, being such 
as friends here and there (we question not) will approve of, 
having sent a copy of them by James Wasse; there we lay a 
foundation for after ages to understand their liberty as men 
christians, that they may not be brought in bondage, but by their 
own consent, for we put the power in the people, that is to say, 
they to meet and choose one honest man for each ]M-opriety, who 
hath subscribed to the concessions : all these men to meet as an 
assembly there, to make and repeal laws, to choose a governor, 
or a commissioner, and twelve assistants, to execute the laws 
during their ])leasure, so every man is ca]:)able to choose or be 
chosen. , No man to be arrested, condemned, imprisoned, or mo- 
lested in his estate or liberty, Imt by twelve men of the neighbor- 
hood. No man to lie in prison for debt, but that his estate satisfy 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I3 

as far as it will go. and be set at liberty to work. No person 
to be called in question or molested for his conscience, or for 
worshipping- according to his conscience, with many more things 
mentioned in the said concessions. 

"3. We have been sent over ])y James Wasse, a commission 
under our hands and seals, wherein we impower thyself, James 
Wasse and Richard Guy, or any two of you, to act and do ac- 
cording to the instructions, of which here is a copy ; having also 
sent some goods, to buy and purchase some land of the natives. 

"4. We intend in the spring to send over some more 
commissioners, with the friends and people that cometh there, 
because James Wasse is to return in Samuel Groom's ship for 
England : for Richard Guy, we judge him to be an honest man, 
yet we are afraid John Fenwick will hurt him and get him to 
condescend to things that may not be for the good of the whole ; 
so we hope thou wilt ballance him to what is just and fair ; that 
John Fenwick betray him not, that things may go on easy with- 
out hurt or jar; which is the desire of all friends; and we hope 
West Jersey will be soon planted ; it being in the minds of many 
friends to prepare for their going against the spring. 

"5. Having thus far given thee a sketch of things, we come 
now to desire thy assistance, and the assistance of other friends 
in your parts ; and we hope it will be at length an advantage to 
you there, both upon truth's account, and other ways ; and in 
regard many families more may come over in the spring to Dela- 
ware side, to settle and plant, and will be assigned by us to take 
possession of their particular lots ; we do contract and desire that 
thou, knowing the country and how to deal with the natives; we 
say, that thee, and some other friends, would go over to Delaware 
side, as soon as this comes to your hands, or as soon as you can 
conveniently ; and James Wasse is to come to a place called New 
Castle, on the other side of the Delaware river, to stay for thee, 
and any that will go with him ; and you all to advise together, and 
find out a fit place to take up for a town, and agree with the 
natives for a tract of land ; and then let it be surveyed and 
divided in one hundred parts ; for that is the method we have 
agreed to take, and we cannot alter it ; and if you set men to work 
to clear some of the ground we would be at the charges ; and we 
do intend to satisfy thee for any charges thou art at, and for thy 



14 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

pains. This we would not have net^lected, for we know, and you 
that are here know, that if the land we had not taken up before 
the spring; that many people come over there, the natives will 
insist on high demands, and so we will suffer by buying at dear 
rates, and our friends that cometh over, be at great trouble and 
charges until a place be bought and divided ; for we do not like 
the tract of land John Fenwick hath bought, so as to make it our 
first settlement ; but we would have thee and friends there, to 
provide and take up a place on some creek or river, that may lie 
you, and such a place as you may like ; for may be it may come in 
3^our minds to come over to our side, when you see the hand of 
the Lord with us ; and so we can say no more, but leave the thing 
with you, believing that friends there will have a regard to friends 
settling, that it may be done in that way and method, that may be 
for the good of the whole; rest thy friends, 

GawEn LawriE, 
William Penn, 
Nicholas Lucas, 
E. Byllinge, 
John Edridge, 
Edmond Warner, 



Proprietors' Lnstructions to James Wasse 
AND Richard Hartshorne 

"London, the i8th of 6111 month, 1676. 

"We whose names are hereunder subscribed, do give full 
power, commission and authority, unto James Wasse. Richard 
Hartshorne and Richard Guy, or any two of them, to act and do 
for us according to the following instructions ; and we do engage 
to ratify and confirm whatsoever they shall do in prosecution of 
the same. 

"i. We desire you to get a meeting with John Fenwick. 
and the people that went with him, (but we would not have vou 
tell your business,) until you get them together; then show and 
read the deed of partition with George Cartaret ; also the trans- 
actions between William Penn, Nicholas Lucas, Gawen Lawrie, 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 5 

Tohn Edridge and Edrnond Warner, and then read our letter to 
John Fenwick and the rest, and shew John Fenwick he hath no 
power to sell any land there, without the consent of John Edridge 
and Edmond Warner. 

"2. Know of John Fenwick, if he will be willing- ]ieaceahly 
to let the land he hath taken up of the natives be divided into 
one hundred parts, according to our and his agreement in Eng- 
land, casting lots for the same, we being willing that those who 
being settled and have cultivated ground now with him, shall 
enjoy the same, without being turned out, although they fall into 
our lots : Always provided, that we be reimbursed the like value 
and quantity in goodness out of John Fenwick's lots. And we 
are also content to pay our ninetieth parts of what is paid to the 
natives for the same, and for what James Wasse hath purchased 
of John Fenwick, and he setting out the same unto him, not being 
in a place to be allotted for a town upon a river, but at a distance, 
and the said John Fenwick allowing us the value in goodness 
in some other of his lots ; we are willing he shall possess the same 
from any claiming by or under us ; and for the town lots we are 
willing he enjoy the same as freely as any purchaser buying of us. 

"3. Take information from some that knows the sound- 
ings of the river and creeks, and that is acquainted in the coun- 
try, and when James Wasse is in Maryland, he may enquire 
for one Augustin, who as we hear did found most part of Dela- 
ware river and the creeks : He is an able surveyor ; see to agree 
with him to go with you up the river as far as over against New 
Castle, or further if you can, so far as a vessel of a hundred tun 
can go ; for we intend to have a way cut across the country to 
vSandy Hook ; so the further up the way, the shorter ; and there, 
upon some creek or bay in some healthy ground, find out a place 
fit to make a settlement for a town ; and then go to the Indians 
and agree with them for a tract of land about the said place, of 
twenty or thirty miles long, more or less, as you see meet, and as 
broad as you see meet. If it be to the middle, we care not ; only 
enquire if George Carteret, have not purchased some there already, 
that so you may not buy it over again. 

"4. Then lay out four or five thousand acres for a town ; 
and if Augustin will undertake to do it reasonably, let him do it ; 
for he is the fittest man; and if he think he cannot survey so 



1 6 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

niucli, being in the winter time, then let liim lay out the less for a 
town at present, if it be but two thousand acres, and let him 
divide it in a hundred parts ; and when it is done let John Fenwick, 
if he please, be there ; however, let him have notice. But however, 
let some of you be there, to see the lots cast fairly by one person 
that is not concerned. The lots are from number one to a 
hundred, and ])ut the same numbers of the lots on the partition 
trees for distinction. 

"5. If John Fenwick and those concerned with him, be 
willing to join with you in those things as above, which is just 
and fair, then he, or any of them, may go along with you in your 
business ; and let them pay their proportion of what is paid to 
the natives, with other charges. And so he and they may dispose 
of their lots with consent of John Edridge and Edmond Warner ; 
which lots are 20, 21, 26, 27, 36, 47 50, 57, 63, 72. 

"6. If John Fenwick and his people, refuse to let the land 
they have taken up of the natives be divided, -and refuse to join 
with you, you may let the country know in what capacity John 
Fenwick stands, that he has no power over the person or estates 
of any man or woman more than any other person. 

"7. What land you take of the natives, let it be taken, viz. : 
Ninety parts for the use of William Penn, Gawen Lawrie and 
Nicholas Lucas, and ten parts for John Edridge and Edmond 
Warner. 

"8. After you have taken the land as above, and divided 
for a town or settlement and cast lots for the same as above ; then 
if they have a mind to buy one or more properties, sell them at 
two hundred specie ; they taking their lots as theirs do, paying to 
you in hand the value of fifty pounds in parts of a propriety, and 
the rest on sealing their conveyance in London ; and so they 
may presently settle. When any of the lots fall to us. that is to say, 
he that buyeth a propriety may settle on any one lot of ninety 
parts ; which said persons that buys, and what lots falls to them, 
there they may settle, and acquaint us what numbers they are : 
and if they will take land to them and their heirs forever, for 
every acre taken up in a place laid out for a town, according to 
the concessions, they are not to have above what shall fall by lot 
to a propriety in a town. 

"9. What charges James Wasse it at, by taking up the 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COVNTY, N. J. 17 

land of the natives, we do oblige to pay the same unto him again, 
with what profits is usual there upon English goods ; and he may 
pitch upon two lots, one in each town ; if they be taken up before 
he comes away, to his own proper use, for his trouble and pains. 
And we do also engage to allow and pay what charges any of 
our commissioners shall disburse in executing these our instruc- 
tions to them or their assigns. 

"10. Let us be advised by the first ship that cometh for 
England, of all proceedings hereupon, and write to the friends at 
Sandy Hook, letting them know how things are, and that we have 
divided with George Cartaret, and that our division is all along 
on Delaware River ; and that we have made concessions by our- 
selves which we hope will satisfy friends there. If John Fenwick, 
or any of the people with him, desire a copy of the deed of par- 
tition, let them have it. 

"11. We desire that our original deed be kept in your own 
custody, that it nay be ready to shew unto the rest of the com- 
missioners, which we intend to send over in the spring, with full 
power for settling things, and to lay out land, and dispose upon 
it, and for the settling" some method of government according to 
the concessions. 

"12. If you cannot get Augustin to go with you, or that he 
be unreasonable in his demands ; then send a man to Thomas 
Bushroods, at Essex Lodge, in York river, for William Elliot, 
who writes to Gawen Lawrie this year, and offered himself to be 
surveyor, and tell him you had orders from said Lawrie to send 
for him and take him with you. He will be willing to be there 
all winter, and will survey and do other things. He had a char- 
acter in Virginia, but was not able to keep it ; he is a fair con- 
ditioned sober man. Let him stay there all winter, and order 
him something to live upon. 

"13. If the said Elliot go with you, give him directions what 
to do. If you cann()t stay till a place for a town be surveyed, 
yet we think you may stay until you have not only pitched upon 
a place for a town, but also upon a place for a second town and 
settlement, and have marked out a place round about there, and 
let William Elliott divide both which no doubt but he may do 
before the spring, that we send over more commissioners and 
people ; and if John Fenwick be willing to go on jointly with you 



1 8 EARLY HISTORY 01- ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

there, his surveyor may go along- and help ours, and the charges 
shall be brought in for both proportionably on all. Alind this 
and speak to Richard Guy, or Richard Hartshorne, and leave 
orders with them to let William Elliot have provisions for himself 
till spring, and we shall order them satisfacton for the same ; and 
if there be no house near the place you' may take up for the sur- 
veyors to lodge in, then let there be a cottage built for them on 
the place and we will allow the charges. 

"14. And whereas there is tackling there already, for fitting 
a sloop, as we judge in the custody of Richard Guy: We also 
give you power, if you see meet, and that it be of necessary ,use 
and advantage for the whole concern, you may order these ship 
carpenters to build a sloop suitable for these materials, and 
appoint them some provision for their food, and for the rest of 
their wages they shall either have it in a part of the sloop, or be 
otherwise satisfied in the spring of the year ; the said sloop to be 
ordered and disposed upon by you until more commissioners come 
over with further instructions. 

"15. With the goods we have sent over with James Wasse 
are to disposed upon for purchase land from the natives or 
otherwise as need is, giving us account thereof. 

William Plnn, 
Nicholas Lucas, 
Edmond Warner. 
Gawen Lawrie, 
E. Byllinge. 



The instrument for dividing the province being agreed on 
by Sir George Cartaret on the one part and the said E. Byllinge, 
William Penn, Gawen Lawrie, and Nicholas Lucas on the other, 
they together signed a Ouintipartite deed after the first day of 
July, 1676. f. 

The line of division being thus far settled, each took their 
own measures for further peopling and improving their diflterent 
shares. Sir George Cartaret had greatly the advantage respect- 
ing improvements, his part being (as we have seen) already 
considerably peopled : The western proprietors soon published a 
description of their moietv. on which manv removed thither: 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 9 

But lest any should not sufficiently weiy^h the importance of this 
undertaking, and for other reasons, the three principal proprietorij 
puhlished the following" cautionary epistle : 

Proprietors" Instructions to Jamks W'asse 
AND Richard Hartsiiorne 

Dear friends and brethren : 

Epistle. "In the pure love and precious fellowship of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, we very dearly salute you : Forasmuch as there 
was a paper printed several months since, entitled, The Descrip- 
tion of N eiv-W est-J ersey, in the which our names were men- 
tioned as trustees for one undivided moiety of the said province : 
And because it is alleged that some, partly on this account, and 
others apprehending, that the paper by the manner of its expres- 
sion, came from the body of friends, as a religious society of peo- 
ple, and not from particulars, have through these mistakes, weakly 
concluded that the third description in matter and form might be 
writ, printed and recommended on purpose to prompt and allure 
people, to dis-settle and transplant themselves, as it's also by some 
alleged : And because that we are informed, that several have on 
that account, taken encouragement and resolution to transplant 
themselves and families to the said province ; and lest any of 
them (as is feared by some) should go out of a curious and un- 
settled mind, and others to shun the testimony of the blessed cross 
of Jesus, of which several weighty friends have a godly jealousy 
upon their spirits ; lest an unwarrantable forwardness should act 
or hurry any beside or beyond the wisdom and counsel of the 
Lord, or the freedom of his light and the spirit in their own 
hearts, and not upon a good and weighty grounds : It truly laid 
hard upon us, to let friends know how the matter stands ; which 
we shall endeavor to do with all clearness and fidelity. 

"i. That there is such a province as Neiv Jersey, is certain 

"2. That it is reputed of those who have lived and have 
travelled in that country, to be wholesome of air and fruitful of 
soil, and capable of sea trade, is also certain ; and it is not right 
in any to despise or dispraise it, or dissuade those that find free- 
dom from the Lord, and necessity put them on going. 

"3. That the duke of York sold it to those called lord Berke- 



20 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUXTY, X. J, 

ley, baron of Stratton, and sir George Cartaret, equally to be di- 
vided between them, is also certain. 

"4. One moiety or half part of the said province, being the 
rierht of the said lord Berkeley, was sold by him to John Fenwick, 
in trust for Edward Byllinge, and his assigns. 

"5. Forasmuc'i as E. !>. (after William Penn had ended the 
difference between the said Edward liyllinge and John Fenwickj 
was willing to present his interest in the said province to his 
creditors, as all that he had left him. towards their satisfaction, 
he desired William Penn (though every way unconcerned) and 
Gawen Lawrie, and Nicholas Lucas, two of his creditors, to be 
trustees for performance of the same ; and because several of his 
creditors, particularly and very importunately, pressed William 
Penn to accept of the trust for their sakes and security : we did all 
of us comply with those and the like requests, and accepted of the 
trust. 

"6. Upon this we became trustees for one moiety of the said 
province yet undivided: And after no little labour, trouble and 
cost, a division was obtained between the said sir George Cartaret 
and us, as trustees : The country is situated and bounded as is 
expressed in the printed description. 

"7. This now divided moiety is to be cast into one hundred 
parts, lots, or properties ; ten of which upon the agreement made 
betwixt E. P)yllinge and J. Fenwick, were settled and conveyed 
unto J. Fenwick, his executors and assigns, with a considerable 
sum of mone\-. by way of satisfaction for what he became con- 
cerned in the iJurchase from the said lord I'.erkeley, and by him 
afterwards conveyed to John Edridge (or Eldridge ) and Edmond 
Warner, tlicir heirs and assigns. 

"8. The ninety parts remaining are exposed for sale, on 
the behalf of the creditors of the said E. B. And forasnmch as 
several friends are concerned as creditors, as well as others, and 
the disposal of so great a ])art of this country being in our hands : 
we did in real tenderness and regard to friends, and es])ecially to 
the poor and necessitous, make frienclr, the first ot¥er ; that if any 
of them, though ])articularly those that being low in the world, 
and under trials about a comfortable livelihood for tliemselves 
and famines should l)e desirous of dealing for any ]iart or parcel 
thereof, that the\- might have the refusal. 



HARLY HISTORY or ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 21 

"9. This was the real and Iionest intent of our hearts, and 
not to prompt or alhire any out of their places, either hy the credit 
our names might have with our peoi)le throughout the nation or 
by representing the thing otherwise than it is in itself. 

"As for the printed paper sometime since set forth by the 
creditors, as a description of that province ; we say as to two 
passages in it, they are not so clearly and safely worded as ought 
to have been ; particularly in seeming to limit the zvinter season 
to so short a time ; when on further information, we hear it is 
sometimes longer and sometimes shorter than therein expressed; 
and the last clause relating to liberty of conscience, we would not 
liave any to think that it is promised or intended to maintain the 
liberty of the exercise of religion by force and arms ; though we 
shall never consent to any the least violence on conscience ; yet 
it was never designed to encourage any to expect by force of arms 
to have liberty of conscience fenced against invaders thereof. 

"10. And be it known unto you all in the name and fear of 
Almighty God, his glory and honour, power and wisdom, truth 
and kingdom, is dearer to us than all visible things ; and as our 
eye has been single and our heart sincere to the living God, in 
this as in other things ; so we desire all whom it ma\' concern, 
that all groundless jealousies may be judged down and watched 
against, and that all extremes may be avoided on all hands by the 
power of the Lord ; that nothing which hurts or grieves the holy 
life of truth in any that goes or stays, may be adhered to; nor 
any provocations given to break precious unity. 

"This am I, William Penn. moved of the Lord, to write unto 
you, lest any bring a temptation upon themselves or others ; and 
in offending the Lord, slay their own peace : Blessed are they 
that can see, and behold their leader, their ordered, their con- 
ductor and preserver, in staying or going. IVJwse is tlie earth 
and the fullness tJiereof. and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 
And as we formerly writ, we cannot but repeat our request imto 
you, that in whomsoever a desire is concerned in this intended 
plantation, such should weigh the thing and not headily or rashly 
conclude on any such remove ; and that they do not offer violence 
to the tender love of their near kindred and relations ; bitf soberly 
■and conscientiously endeavor to obtain their good u'ills, the unity 
•of friends zi'here they live; that nhcther they go or stay, it may he 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 23 

of i^ood favour before the Lord (and i^ood peof^le) from lehom 
only can all heavenly a)id earthly blcssini^s come. This we 
thought good to write, for the preventing of all misunderstand- 
ings, and to declare the real trvith of the matter ; and so we com- 
mend you all to the Lord, who is the watchman of his Israel. 
We are your friends and brethren, 

William Penn, 
Gawen Lawrie, 
Nicholas Lucas." 

The Land System of West Jersey. 
Yet, even in West Jersey it was unavoidable that there should 
be some irregularities and disputes. One cause of trouble was 
found in the operations of the headstrong Fenwick at Salem. 
Upon Fenwick's arrival in West Jersey he styled himself sole 
proprietor 'of the province, appointed a register and a surveyor, 
and undertook to grant lands in a rather indiscriminate manner. 
In spite of the several efforts of conciliation, he continued to 
ignore the legitimate proprietors, until 1C82, when an agreement 
was at length effected with him, through the instrumentality of 
Penn. Pie was allowed 150,000 acres of land, that being the 
amount had had already granted in Salem town and vicinity, and 
his deeds to that amount were recognized as valid. All further 
claims Fenwick surrendered to Penn, and as that distinguished 
person had already acquired the interests of Elbridge, or Eldridge, 
and Warner, he thus became the recognized proprietor of the 
*'Salem Tenth." — (Copied from "The Province of Xeic Jersey," 
written by Bdivin P. Tanner.) 



The first West Jersey commissioners were Thomas Olive, 
Daniel Wills, John Kinsey, John Penford, Joseph Helmsley, 
Robert Stacy, Benjamin Scott, Richard Guy, and Thomas Foulke. 

New Jersey Signers of Independence : Richard Stockton. 
John Witherspoon, James Hopkinson, John Hart, and Abraham 
Clark. 

Newspapers of New Jersey during the Revolution : New 
Jersey Gazette, pul)lished in Ikirlington December 3d, 1777; New 
Jersey Journal, first i:)ublished in Chatham in 1770; removed to 
Elizabethtown in 1786. 



24 KARLV HISTORY OI' ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



FROM OFFICIAL REGISTER OF OFFICERS AND MEN 
OF NEW JERSEY IN RE\^OLUTIONARY WAR 

Bv W'm. Strvkkk, Adjutant General 

In tlie following' resolutions from the Journal of Congress, 
October (jlh, 1775, in the first call on New Jersey for Continental 
troops : 

Rcsoli'cd — That it be recommended to the Convention of 
New Jersey ; that they immediately raise at the expense of the 
Continent, Iwo battalions: consisting- of Eight Companies each, 
and each company of sixty-eight privates officered with one cap- 
tain, one lieutenant, one ensig;n, four serg^iants, and four cor- 
porals. 

That the ])ri\'atcs "lie enli. ted for one \ear, at the rate of Five 
dollars per Calendar month ; liable to be discharged at any time 
on allowing' them one month pay extraordinarv. 

That eacli of the privates be allowed instead of bounty i felt 
hat, a pair of yarn stockings and a pair of shoes, the men to find 
their own arms. 

That the pay of the officers to be the same as the officers of 
the Continental army. 

That each Captain and other Commissioned Officers, while in 
the recruiting service in this Continent, or on their march to join 
the army, shall be allowed two and two-thirds dollars ])er week, 
for their subsistence, and that the men who enlist shall each of 
them, while in (|uarters, be allowed one dollar per week, and 
one and one-third dollars when on their march to join the army, 
for the same purpose. 

December, 1777, the cartonment of the army was proposed 
by General Washington, and in this connection. Congress called 
upon him Dec. 19th for a re])ort thereon and urged that measures 
be immediately agreed ui'xmi for the protection of New Jersey.; 

TKxT OF THE RESOLUTION 

Resolved — That General Washington be informed that in the 
opinion of Congress, the State of New Jersey, demands in a pecu- 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COIXTY, N. j. 2$ 

liar degree, the protection of armies of United States, so far as 
the same can possibly be extended, consistent with the safety 
of the army and the general welfare, as that state lies open to 
attacks from too many quarters and the struggles which have 
been made by the brave and virtuous inhabitants of that state in 
defence of the common cause, cannot fail of exposing tlu-ni to the 
particular resentment of a merciless enemy. 



January loth, 1776. 

Resolz'cd— That another llattalion be raised in New Jersey, 
on the same terms as the other two raised, in the same Colony : — 

Province of Xew Jersey, 

In Congress, Feb. 6th, 1776. 

Whereas — By a resolution of the Honorable Continental 
Congress, a Third Battalion is recommended, immediately to be 
raised in this Colony for the service, at the expense of the United 
Colonies, consisting of the same as ist and 2nd r)attalions — in 
officers and in numbers. 

Resolved — That agreeable to the recommendation of the said 
Honorable Continental Congress, the recruiting officer enlist none 
but healthy, sound and able bodied freemen, not under sixteen 
years of age. 

And it is directed, where any company shall be enlisted the 
Captain having warrants for raising the same, shall a muster to be 
had thereof in the presence of 



They are hereby appointed -; 

muster master to review the I 

said companies, and administer ^ 
the oath to such Captains. 



f AzARiAH Dunham, 
John AIehelkm, 
Joseph Ellis, 
Edmund Thom.vs. 



The Continental Congress assumed the right of appointing 
Xew Jersey's field officers. This, the Colony contended, should 



26 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

be reserved to itself. After much discussion the Provincial Con- 
gress, (3ctober 28, recommended the names of those fitted for 
field officers of the First or Eastern Battalion, and the Second 
or Western Battalion. This organization was known as the 
First Establishment of the Continental troops, "Jersey Line." 
Of the First Battalion Wm. Alexander, titular Lord Stirling, was 
Colonel while Wm. Maxwell was Colonel of the Second Bat- 
talion. 

Although it was with difficulty that arms and clothing could 
be secured for the Second Battalion, Congress, on the loth of 
January, 1776, called upon Xew Jersey to furnish a third battalion 
of eight companies, each consisting of 78 privates. The Colonel 
of the Third Battalion First Establishment was Elias Dayton, 
On the 3rd of ]\Iay, the First and Third Battalions left New York 
City upon the Canadian expedition, being later joined by the 
Second. After nearly a year's experience in Indian warfare at 
Johnstown German Flats, Fort Dayton, Fort Schuyler, Ticon- 
deroga, and Mount Independence, the Third Battalion returned 
to New Jersey and at Morristown was discharged March 23rd, 
1777. 

The Second Establishment of Continental troops of New 
Jersey dates from September 16, 1776. the men enlisted in the 
First Establishment being given preference in the matter of rc- 
enlistments. Elias Dayton was again Colonel of the Third Bat- 
talion. The I St, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions were known as 
"Maxwell's Brigade, which impeded and harassed Gen. Clinton's 
force in its retreat through the Jerseys, after the evacuation of 
Philadel]ihia. The brigade also participated in the Battle of 
Monmouth. 

The Third and last Estal)lishmcnt, wliich consisted of three 
regiments, was confirmed by the Xew Jersey Legislature, Sep- 
tember 26, 1781, Elias Dayton being Colonel of the Third. Each 
county was alloted one battalion of militia, except Gloucester and 
Salem, which were united. C^n July 4th, 1780, the women of 
New Jersey organized a society for hel])ing in t!ie cause of 
American libert}- ; the names of those from Gloucester County 
were Mrs. (Colonel) Clark, Mrs. (Colonel) Wescott. Mrs. (Col- 
onel) Ellis, Mrs. (Colonel) Ilugg, Mrs. Bloomfield. — Lcc, Vol. 2, 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 27 



CONSTITUTION— ACT OF LEGISLATURE 

Be it resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the 
State of New Jersey, That the Governor, the Treasurer and 
Comptroller, be authorized to cause to be published such number 
of copies as they may deem proper, of the record of soldiers of 
this State in the Revolution and that they prepare, if it can be 
done, a record of like character of the soldiers of this State in 
the War of 181 2 and the Mexican War. That the Treasurer be 
directed to pay upon the warrant of the Comptroller the ex- 
penses incurred. 

October 4, 1780 — An act was passed to enable owners and 
possessors of the tide-marshes and meadows, living on Absecon 
Creek, in Gloucester County, to erect and maintain a bank, to 
prevent the tides from overflowing the marshes and meadows. 

The Constitution framed in 1776 just before the Declaration 
of Independence by the United Colonies remained in force until 
1844. In that year a convention of delegates from the several 
counties met in convention at Trenton, under authority from the 
legislature, framed a new one, more in accordance with the 
altered condition of the Commonwealth and the spirit of fuller 
freedom which had been developed. 



28 IvARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

OFFICERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 

GLrOUCESTElR COUNTY 

Ellis, Qaptain Joseph, Muster Master, 1780. 
Davis, Captain John, Recruiting Officer, 1781. 
Xiucas, Simon, Captain. 
First Battalion: 

Shreve, Israel, Colonel, also Colonel Continental Army. 

Taylor, Robert, Captain, Major, Colonel. 

■Bodo, Otto. Colonel. 

Tonkin, Samuel, Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Shreve, Samuel, Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Brown, Robert, Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Flanningham (or Flanagan), Samuel, Major, also Captain in 
Continental Army. 
Second Battalion: 

Ellis, Joseph, Colonel, also Brigadier-General. 

Clark, Elijah, Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Ellis, William, Major. 
Third Battalion: 

Somers, Richard, Colonel. 

Westcott, Richard, First Major. 
■ Payne, George, Captain, First Major. 

Smith, Jeremiah, Captain, Second Major. 

Smith, William, Adjutant. 

Little, John, Paymaster. 

Hendry, Thomas, Surgeon. 

Carpenter, Thomas, Paymaster. 
Baker, John, Captain Third Battalion, Captain of State Troops. 
Barnes, Andrew, Captain, Prisoner of War in September, 1780. 
Browning, Jacob, Captain Second Battalion, September 22, 1777. 
Cheeseman, Richard, Captain First Battalion. 

Covenover, Joseph, Captain Third Battalion, September 12, 1777. 
Cozens, John, Captain First Battalion, Prisoner of War; exchanged 
December 8, 1780; Captain State Troops. 
Davis, John, Captain First Battalion. 

Douglas, , Captain. 

Elwell, Joseph, Captain Third Battalion. 

Elwell, Sawtel, Lieutenant Second Battalion, September 3, 1776; 
Captain First Battalion. 

Estell, Joseph, Captain Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 
Fisher, Felix, Captain. 

Hampton, John, Lieutenant Third Battalion, also Captain. 
Harrison, William, Captain Second Battalion. 

Higbee, Richard, Second Lieutenant Captain Payne's Company, 
Third Battalion, Novemlier 14, 1777; First Lieutenant, Captain. 

Holmes, James, Captain, Gloucester; Captain Battalion, "Heard's 
Brigade" June 16, 1776; also Captain in Continental Army. 
Inskip, John, Lieutenant Second Battalion Captain. 
Lucas, Simon, Captain, Gloucester; Captain Major Hayes' Bat- 
talion State Troops. 

Maffatt, Archil)ald, Captain I-'irst P.attalitui; resigned. 
Maffatt, William, First Lieutenant Captain Pierce's Company, 
J-"irst Battalion, June 2, 1777; Captain. 

Newkirk, Cornelius, Captain Second Battalion Salem; also Cap- 
tain First Battalion, Gloucester. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 29 

Patten, John, Captain Second Battalion. 
Paul, David, Lieutenant Third Battalion; Captain. 
Pierce, George, Captain First Battalion, June 2, 177 7. 
Price, William, Captain Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 
Purvis, George, Captain Second Battalion. 

Rape, Christopher, Captain Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 
Rice,' William, Captain, Salem; Captain First Battalion, Glou- 
cester. 

iShute, Henry, Captain First Battalion. 
Smith, William, Adjutant Third Battalion; Captain. 
Sne'll, Robert, First Lieutenant; Captain. 

Snell, Samuel, Captain Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 
Some'rs, James, First Lieutenant Captain Price's Company, Third 
Battalion, September 18, 1777; Captain Second Battalion. 
Somers, John, Captain. 

Steelman, Zephaniah, Captain Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 
Stokes, John, Captain Second Battalion. 

iStonebanks, Richard, Captain First Battalion, October 5, 17 7 8. 
Tallman, James, Captain Troop, Light-Horse, May 3, 1777. 
Thorne, Joseph, Captain Second Battalion, August 10, 1776. 
Watson, William, First Lieutenant First Battalion; Captain. 
Weatherby, David, Captain Third Battalion. 

Wood, John, Captain First Battalion, Colonel Holmes' Regiment. 
Wood, John, Captain. 

Baker, David, Private, Lieutenant. 

Carter, John, Lieutenant. 

Chatham, John, Lieutenant First Battalion. 

Leeds, Enoch, Lieutenant. 

McCullough, Joseph, Lieutenant Third Battalion. 

Parsons. John, Lieutenant; Prisoner of War September, 1780. 

Peirce, Ward, Lieutenant. 

Weatherby, Benjamin, Lieutenant Third Battalion. 

Ingersoll, Joseph, First Lieutenant Captain Jeremiah Smith's 
Company, Third Battalion, November 14, 1777. 

Ireland, Edward, First Lieutenant Third Battalion, November 

14, 1777. ' , ^ 

Leeds, Jeremiah, First Lieutenant in Captain Covenover s Com- 
pany, Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

Mitchell, Alexander, First Lieutenant, also Captain Continental 

Army. , 

Morse, Nehemiah, First Lieutenant Captain Payne s Company, 
Third Battalion. November 14, 1777. 

Springer. Samuel, First Lieutenant Captain Rape's Company, 
Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

Westcott, Arthur, First Lieutenant Captain Estell's Company, 
Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

Chew, Aaron, Second Lieutenant Second Battalion. 

Covenhoven, Peter, Second Lieutenant, November 14, 1777. 

Endicott, Jacob, Second Lieutenant Captain Snell's Company. 
Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

Finch, William, Second Lieutenant Captain Rape's Company, 
Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

Lucas, John, Second Lieutenant Captain Estell's Company, Third 
Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

McFarland. Samuel, Second Lieutenant First Battalion. 

Parsons (Passant), Abraham, Second Lieutenant Second Battalion. 

Risley, Jeremiah, 'second Lieutenant Captain Covenover's Com- 
pany, Third Battalion, September 18, 1777. 



30 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Roe, Henry, Second Lieutenant First Battalion. 

Scull, John, Second Lieutenant Captain Price's Company, Third 
Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

Townsend, Elijah, Second Lieutenant Captain Jeremiah Smith's 
Company, Third Battalion, November 14, 1777. 

Adams, John, Ensign, Captain Payne's Company, Third Battalion, 
November 14, 1777. 

Avis, Joseph, Ensign, Third Battalion. 

Barrett, Elijah, Ensign, Captain Samuel Snell's Company, Third 
Battalion, September 18, 1777. 

Clark, Japhet, Ensign, Captain Price's Company, Third Battalion, 
September 18, 1777. 

Dilkes, John, Ensign, Captain Pierce's Company, First Battalion, 
June 2, 1777. 

Extell, Ebenezer, Ensign, Captain Estell's Company, Third Bat- 
talion. 

Frazer, Daniel, Ensign, Third Battalion, November 14, 1777. 

Hooper, Daniel, Ensign, Captain Taylor's Company, Third Bat- 
talion. 

Inskeep, Benjamin, Ensign, Captain Browning's Company, Second 
Battalion. 

McCollum, Cornelius, Ensign. 

Morrel, Joseph, Ensign, Captain Thome's Company, Second Bat- 
talion. 

Sipple, Nathaniel, Ensign, Captain Covenover's Company, Third 
Battalion. 

Stillwell. David, Ensign, Captain Jeremiah Smith's Company, 
Third Battalion. 

Tilton, John, Private Third Battalion, Sergeant, Ensign, Novem- 
ber 14, 1777. 

Bennett, Abraham, Private, Sergeant. 

Campbell, William, Sergeant, Captain Da\is' Company, First Bat- 
talion. 

McCollum, Patrick, Sergeant. 

Reed, John, Sergeant; also Private Continental Army. 

Sayres, Richard, Private, Sergeant. 

Spencer, Jacob, Sergeant. 

Tomblin, James, Private, Corporal, Sergeant. 

Fisler, Leonard, Corporal. 

Dare, Philip, Wagoner. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 3 1 

OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE THIRD NEW JERSEY 

REGIMENT 

Col. — Elias Dayton, Jan., 1776, to Jan. 1, 1787. 

'Lieut. CoL — Anthony W. White, Jan. 18, 1776. to Nov. 20, 1776. 

Lieut. Col. — Francis Barber, Nov. 28, 1778, to Jan. 1, 1781. 

Major — Francis Barber, Jan. 18, 1776, to Nov. 20, 1776. 

Major — Joseph Bloomfield, Nov. 28, 1776, to Oct. 29, 177S. 

Major — John Conway, Oct. 29, 1778, to July 5, 1779. 

Major — John Hollinshead, April 7, 1779, to Jan. 1, 1781. 

PRIVATES OF GLOUCESTER COUNTY 

Abbott, Jeptha, Third Battalion. 

Abel, John, Second Battalion, also State Troops; also Continental 
JLrmy. 

Ackley, L^aniel, Gloucester. 

Ackley, Hezekiah, Gloucester. 

Ackley, James, Gloucester. 

Ackley, John, Gloucester. 

Ackley, Silas, Gloucester. 

Adair, James, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Adams, Andrew, Gloucester. 

Adams, David, Gloucester. 

Adams, Elijah, Gloucester. 

Adams, Jeremiah, Gloucester. 

Adams, Jesse, Gloucester. 

Adams, Jonas, Gloucester. 

Adams, Jonathan, Gloucester. 

Adams, Richard, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Adams, Thomas, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Adams, William, Gloucester. 

Aim, Abram, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Albertson, Abraham, Gloucester. 

Albertson, Albert, Gloucester. 

Albertson, Isaac, Gloucester. 

Albertson, Jacob, Jr., Gloucester. 

Albertson, Jacob, Sr., Gloucester. 

Allen, George, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Allen, Joseph, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Allen, William, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Allen, Thomas. Third Battalion (Allcor), Gloucester. 

Allset, Jacob, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Anderson, Henry, Second Battalion, Gloucester, Continental Army. 

Applegate, Captain Chambers, Second Battalion. 

Armstrong, Isaac, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Aschroft, Gibson, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Ashcroft, James, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Atherton, Cormiter, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Ayers, Abijah, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Ayers, James, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Ayers, Moses, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Bacon, Abel, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bachon, Benjamin, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Baker, Frederick. 



32 EARLY HISTORY OP ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Baley, James. 

Baley, John, Continental Army. 
■Baley, Jonathan. 
Baley, Joseph. 

Balken, Benjamin, Third Battalion. 
Barden, Haned, Third Battalion. 
Barker, Richard, Third Battalion. 
Barton, Jonathan, Continental Army. 
Bates, William, Third Battalion, Cloucester. 
Beavin, Thomas, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Beesly, Jonathan, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Belange, James. 
Belange, Nicholas. 
Belange, Samuel. 

Bell, Robert. • ;^ 

Bell, William. 

Benly, Jonathan, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
' Bennett, Alexander, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bennett, John. 
Bennett, Jonathan. 

Berry, John, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bispham, Benjamin. 
Blackman, Andrew. 
Blackman, David. 
Blackman, John. 
Blackman, Nehimiah. 
Bleakman, James. 

Boggs, James, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Boice, William. 

Bortin, Jonathan, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bowen, Edward. 
Bowen, Josiah. 

Bowen, Zadock, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bradford, John, Third Battalion, Ciloucester. 
Brady, Patrick, Continental Army. 
Bright, George, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Brower, David. 

Brower, David, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Brown, Asa, Second Battalion, State Troops. 
Brown, Matthew, Continental Army. 
Browne, George, Third Battalion. 
Bryant, John, Third Battalion. 

Bryant, Thomas, Third Battalion, Continental Army. 
Buck, Elijah, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Buck, Josiah, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Budey, John, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bulangey, James, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bulangey, Joshua, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Bunton, Rol)in, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Burch, Joseph, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Burk, Elijah, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 
Burnet, Moses. 
Burton, Samuel. 

Busbin, William, Third Battalion. 
Butterworth, Moses, Third Battalion.. 

Cade, Aaron F., Captain Paul's Company, Third Battalion, State 
Troops, and Continental Army. 

Cain, John, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 33 

Cain, Samuel, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 

Camp, Ezekiel, Jr. 

Camp, Jame.s. 

Camp, John. 

Camp, Joseph, Sr. 

Camp, Joseph, Jr. 

Campbell, Archibald. 

Campbell, David, Third Battalion, Gloucester, Col. Somer.s' State 
Troops. 

Campbell, William, Captain Fi.sler's Company, Continental Army. 

Campen, William, Third Battalion, Gloucester, Colonel Somers' 
Battalion, State Troops. 

Cann, John. 

Caranna, George, Third Battalion, Gloucester, also Colonel Somers' 
State Troops. 

Carpenter, Jacob. 

Carter, George, Third Battalion, Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 

Caruthers, James, Third Battalion, Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Casey, John, Third Battalion, State Troops, Continental Army. 

Casker, Benjamin. 

Caskie, Simon. 

Casperson, Tobias, Third Battalion, also Colonel Somers' State 
Troops. 

Cattel'l, William. 

Cavener, George, Third Battalion. 

Chamberlain, Thomas. 

Champion, Daniel. 

Champion, John. 

Champion, Thomas. 

Chattan, John, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Troops. 

Cheesman, Thomas, Third Battalion, Col. Somers . Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Chester, John, Third Battalion, Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 

Chew, Robert, Third Battalion, Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 

Clark, Adrial. 

Clark, Benjamin. 

Clark, David. 

Clark, John, Second Battalion, also Continental Army. 

Clark, Joseph, Gloucester. 

Clark, Parker, Gloucester. 

Clark, Reuben, Gloucester. 

Clark, Thomas, Gloucester. 

Clemens, Richard, Gloucester, Continental Army. 

Clement, Da\id. 

Clifton, George. 

Clifton, William. 

Clough, Jacob, Third Battalion, Col. 'Somers Battalion and State 
Troops. 

Cobb, John, Third Battalion, Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 

Cobb, Thoma.s, Third Battalion, Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 

Cobb, William, Third Battalion, Gloucester. 



34 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Conklin, Joseph. 

Connelly, Bryant. 

Coni'\er, David. 

Conover, Jesse. 

Conover, Mecajah, Third Battalion, Col. Somers Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Conover, Peter. 

Conover, Peter B. 

Cook, John. 

Cook, Patterson, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Cook, Silas, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and State 
Troops. 

Cordry, William. 

Corson, Abel. 

Corson, John. 

Coshier, John. 

Coshier, Simon. 

Cosier, Benjamin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Cosier, Simon, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Coults, James, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, Statt. 
Troops. 

Course, Isaac. 

Course, William. 

Covenhoven, Isaac. 

Covenhoven, John. 

Covenhoven, Joseph. 

Cox, Andrew, also Continental Army. 

Cox, Jacob, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and State 
Troops. 

Crager, Samuel, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Crandell, Levi, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Cranmore, Wm., Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Cullom, Cornelius, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Dair. Cain, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Dair, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Dallis, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Danelson, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Daniels, Kidd. Third Battalion. 

Daniels, William. 

Daven, Joel, also Continental Army. 

o. . ^^^'^^' ^"'^'■P^'^' Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Davis, Cain, Third Battalion. 
Davis, Curtis. 
Davis, Earl. 
Davis, Richard. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J, 35 

Day, Chas., Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Day, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Day, Thomas, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Deal, Ellas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Deal, James. 
Deal, John. 
Deal, Samuel. 

Deck'ley, James, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Deifel, Edward, Third Battalion. 

Delfer, John, Second Battalion, also Continental Army. 
Denick, Samuel. 
Denick, Samuel, Jr. 
Dennis, David. 
Dennis, Matthew. 
Denny, Gideon. 
Denny, Thomas. 

Denny, Jonas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Derrickson, Andrew, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Dickinson, John, Gloucester. 

Dickinson, William. , 

Dilkes, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops, also Continental Army. 

Dill, Frampton, Third Battalion, also Colonel Somers' Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Dolbier, John. 

Dollis, Samuel, Third Battalion. 
Doram, John. 
Dorcar, Silas. 
Dormant, Jesse. 
Dougherty, Edward. 
Doughty, Abel. 
Doughty, Abige. 
Doughty, Abner. 
Doughty, Absalom. 
Doughty, Jonathan. 
Doughty, Josiah. 
Doughty, Thomas. 
Dowan, Edward. 
Dower, John. 
Drummond, Benjamin. 
Drummond, John. 

Duffell, Edward, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Dulaney, Samuel. 
Dunaway, Thomas. 
Dunlap, James. 

Eastall, Joseph. 

Edwards, John, Second Battalion, also State Troops, also Conti- ■ 
nental Army. 

Edwards, Joi?eph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 



36 EARI.Y HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Eglenton, Ebenezer, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Eldridge, Wm., Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Elway, Jeremiah. 

English, Joseph. 

English, Mizeal. 

English, Thomas. 

Er\in, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Evans, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Ewing, Abner, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops'. 

Ewing, Abraham, Third Battalion. 

Falkner, Daniel. 

Farrell, John, Continental Army. 

Farrow, Abraham, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Farrow, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Farrow, Mark, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. , 

Feathers, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Fell, Peter, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Fell, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Fenimore, Abraham, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Fenimore, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Ferlew, Nathan, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Ferrill, James, Continental Army. 

Fetter, Jacob, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Field, Thomas, Captain Fisler's Company, also Continental Army. 

Fisher, Jacob. 

Fisler, Jacob. 

Fisler, John. 

Fithian, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Fithian, Wm., Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Fletcher, William, also Continental Army. 

Forbes, Uriah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Ford, William. 

Fort, William, Third Battalion, also Colonel Somers' Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Fowler, George. 

Fowler, Isaac, Continental Army. 

Frambes, Andrew. 

Frambes, Nicholas. 

Franklin, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 37 

Frazier, DanieL 

French, Samuel. 

Fry, William. 

Furman, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Furman, Wm., Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. t, ,, ,. /■ 

Gamble, Calvin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Gandy, David, also State Troops. 

Gandy. Edv^ard. 

Gandy, Elias. 

Gandy, John. 

Gant, James. 

Garratson, Jacob. 

Garratson, Jeremiah. 

Garratson, Joseph. 

Garratson, Lemuel. 

Garret, Robert, Continental Army. -r. ^. ,• 

Garrison, Cornelius, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 

^""^ Ga'^rrison" E^lUah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Garrison, Reuben. ■,/-,*• 

Garwood, Samuel, Second Battalion, also State Troops and Conti- 
nental Army. 

Gentry. William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Giberson, James. 

Giberson, Job. 

Giberson, John. -n ** i- 

Gillingham, James, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion. 

and State Troops. 
Giffen. Daniel. 
Gifford, Benjamin. 
Gifford, James. 
Gifford, John. 
Gifford, Timothy. 
Given, Reese, Sr. 
Given, Reese, Jr. 
Given, William. 
Goff, John. 

Gonnel, Francis. „ ^, ,- ■. 

Graham, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Gormlev, James, Third Battalion. 

Graham, William. Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Greaves, Joshua. ^ ^ ■,■ j 

Gromley, James, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

Guild, Benjamin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Hacket, William. „ ., ,. i 

Haines. Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Hainey. William. 



38 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Hamilton, James, also Continental Army. 
Hamilton, John, Third Battalion. 

Hampton, John, Colonel Somers' Battalion, State Troops. 
Hancock, Andrew, Continental Army. 

Harcourt, Abram, Third Battalion, also State Troops and Conti- 
nental Army. 

Harker, Abel, Captain Snell's Company, Third Battalion, also- 
Continental Army. 
Harker, David. 

Harker, Nathaniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Harris, Moses, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Harris, Reuben, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Harris, William, Third Battalion. 
Hawkins, George. 

Hays, David, Captain Covenover's Company, Third Battalion, also 
Continental Army, also State Troops. 

Hedd, Peter, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Heind, David, Third Battalion. 

Helel, Leonard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Helmes, Hance, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Helmes, John, Third Battalion,- also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hemphill, Robert, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Henns, Jacob, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Henry, George. 

Hess, Michael, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hessler, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hewes, William. 

Hewett, Benjamin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Hewett, Caleb, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hewett, Moses, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Hewett, Samuel, Third Battalion, al.«o Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Hewett, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somer? Battalion^ 
and State Troops. 

Hewett, Thomas. 
Hickman, Isaac. 
Hickman, James. 
Hickman, Thomas. 
Higbey, Absalom. 

Higbey, Edward, Captain Steelman's Company. Third Battalion. 
Higbey, Isaac. 

Higbey, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion,, 
and State Troops. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 39 

Hill, Uriah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hillman, Daniel. 

Hillman, John, Third Battalion. 

Hillman, Samuel, Infantry, Artillery, Light Horse. 

Hillman, Samuel A. 

Hillman, Seth. 

Hi.cs, Michael, Third Battalion. 

Hitman, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hoffman, Benjamin, Continental Army. 

Hoffman, Jacob. 

Holling; worth, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Bat- 
talion, and State Troops. 

Homan, Andrew. 

Homan, Daniel. 

Homan, David. 

Hugg, Jo'hn. 

Huskey, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hulings, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Humphries, Thomas. 

Hund, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hund, Lewis, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hurley, John. 

Hurst, Andrew. 

Hutchinson, Abraham, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Hutsinger, Peter, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Hutchinson, Ezekiel. 

Idle, Jacob. 

Ihnetler, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. ^ 

Ingalson, Daniel. 

Ingaison, Isaac. 

Ingersoll, Benjamin. 

Ingersoll, Ebenezer. 

Ingersoll, John. • 

Ingerpoll, Joseph, Jr. 

Irelan, Amos. 

Irelan, David. 

Irelan, Edmund. 

Irelan, George. 

Irelan, Jap'het. 

Irelan, Jonathan. 

Irelan, Joseph. 

Irelan, Reuben. 

Irelan, Thomas. 

Ireland, James, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Ireland, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Ireland, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 



AQ EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Jefferies, James. 

Jefferies, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Jerry, Jonathan, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Jess, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Johnson, Isaac, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

(See Johnston.) 

Johnson, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Johnson, Lawrence, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Johnson, Lewis, Third Battalion. 

Johnson, Michael. 

Johnson, Nathaniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers BatUxlion, 
and State Troops. 

Johnson, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Johnston, Isaac, Capt. Covenover's Company. Third Battalion, 
also Continental Army. 

Johnston, William. 

Jones, Al)raham, Continental Army. 

Jones, Abram. 

Jones, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Jones, Hugh, Wounded. 

Jones, Isaac. 

Jones, Jonas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Jones, Lawrence, Third Battalion. 

Jones, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troop?. 

Kaighn, John, Capt. Higbee's Company, Third Battalion, also Col. 
Somers Battalion, and State Troops, also Continental Army. 

Keen, Reuben. 

Kehela, Thomas, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion, State 
Troops. 

Keilson, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Kelly, Patrick, Third Battalion, also Continental Army. 

Kelly, I>iah, Third Battalion. 

Kelly, William, Continental Army. 

Kendle, James, Third Battalion. 

Kerrey, John, Third Battalion, Capt. Steelman's Company, Third 
Battalion, State Troops, and Continental Army. 

Kesler, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion. 

Kidd, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Kidd, Peter, Third Battalion. 

Killey, John, Third Battalion, Capt. Steelman's Company, State 
Troops, and Continental Army. 

Kindle, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

King, Andrew. 

Lacy, Cornelius, Third Battalion. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 4I 

Lafferty, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Lake, Andrew. 

Lake, Daniel. 

Lake, Joseph, Capt. Steelman's Company, Third Battalion, also 
State Troops and Continental Army. 

Lake, Nathan. 

Lake, William. 

Lamor, Mack. 

Land, George. 

Land, James, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Leah, Nathan, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Leake, Nathaniel, Third Battalion. 

Leake, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Leaman, Godfrey, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Lee, David. 

Lee, Joseph, Captain Pierce's Company, First Battalion, also Con- 
tinental Army. 

Lee, Walter, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Leeds, Daniel. 

Leeds, Felix. 

Leeds, James. 

Leeds, Neheniiah. 

Leeds, Thomas. 

Leeds, William, Continental Army. 

Leonard, Azariah, Third (Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops, also Continental Army. 

Lewis, Francis. 

Lewis, Irenius, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Linwood, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Lippencott, Daniel, Third Battalion. 

Lippencott, John, Captain Rape's Company, Third Battalion, also 
State troops, also Continental Army. 

Little, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Little, John, Sr. 

Little, John, Jr. 

Lock, John. 

Lock, Jonathan. 

Locy, Cornelius, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Lodge, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, ana 
State Troops. 

Long-, Ansey, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Long-, Moses, Third Battalion, also Colonel Somers' Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Long-, Silas. 

Loper, Abram. 

Lord, Asa, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 



42 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Lord, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Lord, Jonathan, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Lown, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Lusk, Israel, Continental Army. 

Manary, Abram. 

Mancy, David. 

Manley, Benjamin. 

Mapes, Edmond. 

Marical, George. 

Marshall, Joseph. 

Mars.hall, 'William. 

Mart, Andrew. 

Mason, Andrew, Third Battalion, also Colonel Somers' Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Mason, David. 

Massey, Benjamin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Master, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Mattacks, David. 

Mattacks, Jesse. 

McCalsner, John. 

McCleary, Michael, Third Battalion, also Colonel Somers' Bat- 
talion, State Troops. 

McCollum, John. 

McConnell, Adam. 

McCullock, Abraham, Third Battalion, also Continental Army. 

McFadden, James, Captain Snell's Company, Third Battalion, also 
State Troops also Continental Army. 

McFadden, John, Third Battalion, also State Troops; also Conti- 
nental Army. 

McFarland, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

McGee, Daniel, Continental Army. 

McGonigal, George, Continental Army. 

McHenry, Charles, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

McKay, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

McKimmy, William. 

McX^eil, Hector, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops, also Quartermaster Sergeant Continental Army. 

Meare, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Meyers, Charles. 

Miller, Benjamin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Miller, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Miller, Stephen, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Minteor, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Mires, George, Third Battalion. 

Mitchell, John, Continental Army. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 43 

Moore, Andrew. 

Moore, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Morris, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Morse, Jonas. 

Morse, Joshua. 

Morse, Nicholas. 

Moses, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Moslander, Sharon, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Mulford, Ezekiel. 

Mulford, Furman, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Mulford, Jonathan, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Mulford, Samuel, Third Battalion. 

Mullaky, John. 

Muney (or Murrey), David, Third Battalion. 

Munnion, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Murphy, William. 

Musbrook, John, Continental Army. 

Neaves, Thomas, Second Battalion, also State Troops, and Conti- 
nental Army. 

Nelson, Davis, Third Battalion. 

Nelson, Gabriel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Nelson, James. 

Nelson, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Nelson Nehemiah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Newgen, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Newman, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Newman, Reuben, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Newton, Silas, also Sergeant, Continental Army. 

Nichols, Jacob. 

Nichols, Cornelius. 

Nichols, Thomas, Second Battalion, also State Troops and Conti- 
nental Army. 

Nickles, Wilson, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Nickleson, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Nielson, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Nielson, Davis, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Nielson, Gabriel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Nile, Benjamin. 

Norcross, Benjamin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 



44 KARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Norcross, James. 

Norcross, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Norton, Caleb. 

Norton, James. 

Norton, Jonathan, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Nukler, Thomas, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion and 
State TroQps. 

Nuk'less, Wilson. Third Battalion. 

Orr (or Ord), John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Osloorn, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Osborn, John, Captain Stonebank's Company, First Battalion, 
also State Troops, also Continental Army. 

Padgett, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Padgett, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Parker, Joseph, Sr. 

Parker, Joseph, Jr. 

Parker, Samuel, (1). 

Parker, Samuel, (2). 

Parkes, Daniel. 

Parkes, Joseph, Capt. Pierce's Company, First Battalion, also 
Continental Army. 

Parkes, Noah. 

Parkes, Paul. 

Parry, Jo'hn, Third Battalion. 

Parshall, Israel. 

Patterson, John, (1), Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops, also Continental Army. 

Patterson, John, (2), Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Paul, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Pawpe, Robert. 

Peckin, Samuel, Third Battalion. 

Peirson, David, Third Battalion. 

Peirson, Stephen, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Penton, James, Corporal, Continental Army. 

Penyard, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Penyard, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Perkins, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Perry, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Perry, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Perry, Joseph. 

Perry, Moses, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 45 

Peters, Philip, Second Battalion, also State Troops, and Conti- 
nental Army. 

Peterson, Abram. 

Peterson, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Peter-i^on, Jacob, Captain Smith's Company, Third Battalion, State 
Troops, and Continental Army. 

Peterson, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Peterson, Thomas. 

Pett, Jos:eph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Pierce, George. . 

Pierce, Ward. 

Piatt, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Piatt, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Poarch, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Pouleson, Lawrence, Continental Army. 

Powell, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Powell, Richard. 

Price, Jacob. 

Price, Levi. 

Price, Richard. 

Price, Thomas. 

Price, Thompson, Captain Somers Company. 

Pridmore, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Prigmore, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops. 

Quicksel, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Rain, John, Captain Fisler's Company, also Continental Army. 

Reed, Jonathan. 

Reed, Obediah. 

Reed, William, Second Battalion, also Continental Army. 

Reeves, John. 

Reeves, Joshua, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Reeves, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Rennard, Thomas. 

Reynolds, Samuel, Third Regiment, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Rice, Michael, Second Battalion, also Continental Army. 

Rich, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Richerson, Richard, Third Battalion. 

Richman, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Richmond, Daniel. 

Riley, Jacob, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Riley, Patrick. 



46 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Risley, Aun. 

Risley, David. 

Risley, Joseph. 

Risley, Morris. 

Risley, Nathaniel. 

Risley, Samuel. 

Risley, Thomas. 

Robbins, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Roberts, James. 

Roberts, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Roberts, Samuel. 

Robertson, George. 

Robertson, Isaac. 

Robeson, Caleb, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Robeson, Jeremiah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Robeson, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Roljeson, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Robinson, Jeremiah. 

Rockhill, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops; also Sergeant Continental Army. 

Ross, Andrew, First Battalion, Wounded October 29, 1777, ditto 
May 19th, 1778. 

Ross, Stephen. 

Rossell, John. 

Rudnown, Enoch, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Rudrow, Enoch, Third Battalion. 

Salmon, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Salsbury, John. 

Sawings, Joseph. 

Sayres, David. 

Scott, Thomas, Capt. Paul's Company, Third Battalion, also State 
Troops, and Continental Army. 

!Scull, Abel. 

Scull, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Scull, Joseph. 

Scull, Peter. 

Sealey, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Seddons, Jacob. 

Seeds, P.enjamin, also Continental Army. 

Seeley, John, Continental Army. 

Seers, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Seller, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Selvey, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Senker, William, Third Battalion. 

Shane, John. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 47 

Sharp, Henry, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Shaw, Reuben, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Shaw, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

(Sheeff, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Shepherd, Lawrence, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Shepherd, Nathaniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Shep'herd, Owen, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Shinfelt, Frederic. 

Shroppear, Edward, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Shute, Samuel, Captain 'Fisler's Company, also Continental Army. 

'Shuley, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Sight, Henry, also Continental Army. 

Sill, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 

Silvey, John, Third Battalion. 

Simkins, George. 

Simkins, James. 

Siner, Jesse, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and State 
Troops. 

Sinker, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Skeoff, David, Third Battalion. 

Slawter, John. 

Slide, Philip, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Smallwood, James. 

Smallwood, John, Second Battalion, also State Troops, also Conti- 
nental Army. 

Smith, Elias. 

Smith, Elijah, Jr. 

Smith, Felix. 

Smith, Henry. 

Smith, Isaac. 

Smith, James. 

Smith, Jesse, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Smith, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Smith, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Smith, Joshua. 

Smith, Micha. 

Smith, Noah. 

Smith, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Smith, Wm. (1), Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Smith, Wm. (2), Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 



48 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Smith, Zenos, S&cond Battalion, also State Troops, and Conti- 
nental Army. 

Snailbaker, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Snailbaker, Philip, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

fcnelbacker, George, Second Battalion, also Continental Army. 

Siiell, David, Third Battalion. 

Snelly, Robert, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Soey, Joseph. 

Soey, Nicholas. 

Soey, Samuel. 

■Sommers, David. 

Sommers, Enoch. 

Sommers, Isaac. 

Sommers, John, Capt. Pierce's Company, First Battalion, and Con- 
tinental Army. 

Sommers, Richard. 

Sommers, Thomas. 

Sparks, Joseph. 

Sparks, Robert. 

Spire, John. 

Springer, Thomas. 

Sprong, Jeremiah. 

Sprong, John. 

Starkey, John. 

Stedman, Richard, Third Battalion. 

Steelman, Andrew. 

Steelman, Daniel. 

Steelman, David. 

Steelman, Ebenezer. 

Steelman, Frederick. 

Steelman, George. 

Steelman, James, Sr. 

Steelman, James. 

Steelman, John, also State Troops. 

Steelman, Jonas. 

Steelman, Jonathan, Sr. 

Steelman, Jonathan, Jr. 

Steelman, Richard, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Stephens, David. 

Steward, Ezekiel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion and 
State Troops. 

Steward, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Stewart, Alexander. 

Stewart, Joel. 

Stewart, John, Sr., Captain Fisler's Company, also State Troops. 

Stewart, John, Jr., Captain Fisler's Company, also State Troops, 
also Continental Army. 

Stewart, Stephen. 

Stibbins, Ebenezer. 

StiUwell, David. 

Stoddard, Samuel. 

Stonebank, Thomas, Captain Stoneback's Company, also State 
Troops, also Continental Armj-.. 



r;ARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 49 

Stord, Joel. 

Stothem, Thomas, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
State Troops, also Capt. Allen's Company, State Troops. 

Strickland, Samuel. 

Strumble, John, also Continental Army. 

StuU, Gideon, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers' Battalion, also 
State Troops. 

Stutman, John. 

Summers, James (Somers), Second Battalion, also Continental 
Army. 

Swain, Abraham, Third Regiment. 

Swain, Judeth, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Swan, Jes'se, Third Battalion. 

Swandler, Isaac. 

Sweeny, Valentine, Third Battalion. 

Swiney, Timothy. 

Swing-, Valentine, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Taylor, Israel. 

Taylor, Robert, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Tennent, William, Continental Army. 

Terrepin, Isaac, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Terrepin, Uriah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Terry, Jonathan. 

Thackry, John. 

Thomas, James. 

Thomas, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Thomas, Richard. 

Thomson, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Thorpe, Oliver, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Tice, John. 

Till, Peter, Third Battalion. 

Tilton, Daniel. 

Tilton, Joseph, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Timberman, Jacob. 

Tomlin, Elijah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. „ ,, ,. ^ 

Tomlin, Jacob, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. ^ ,^ ,. ^ 

Tomlin, Jonathan, Third Battalion, al.so Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Tomlin, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Tonsoii, Lewis, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 

State Troops. 

Tourain or Tourmier, Redack, Third Battalion, Colonel Somers 
Battalion, State Troops. 

Towne, John. 

Townsend, Daniel. 

Townsend, James. 



50 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Townsend, John. 

Townsend, Reddick, Third Battalion, Capt. Smith's Company, 
Continental Army. 

Trumey, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Vanaman, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Vernon, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Waggoner, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Walker, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Wall, George, Capt. Fisler's Company, also Continental Army. 

Wallace, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Walles, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, anu 
State Troops. 

Weatherby, Benjamin, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Weatherby, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Weatherby, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Weeks, John. 

Weeks, Zephaniah. 

Welden, Seth, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Weldron, Thomas. 

Wells, Peter. 

Wence, Jacob. 

West, Israel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

West, LTriah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Wheaton, Peter. 

Wheaton, Robert, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Wheaton, Silas. 

Wheaton, Uriah. 

Whitacre, Samuel. 

White, Jennings, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

White, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Whitlock, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Wild, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Wiles, Daniel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Wiley, James. 

Williams, David, Third Battalion. 

Williams, Edward, Captain Fisler's Company, also Continental 
Army. 

Williams, George, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Williams, John. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 5 1 

Williams, William. 

Williamson, David, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, 
and State Troops. 

Wilsey, Jotin. 

Wilson, Elijah. 

Wilson, William, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Woodruff, Samuel, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion 
and State Troops. 

Woolson, John, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Worrick, Samuel. 

Wright, John, Continental Army. 

Young-, Hance, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

Young, Uriah, Third Battalion, also Col. Somers Battalion, and 
State Troops. 

.Zimmerman, Jacob. 

L. L,. T. W. 



52 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



WAR WITH FRANCE 1 798-1801 

Officers in the United States Navy From New Jersey 

Richard Somers, Midshipman, April 30, 1798; on Frigate 
"United States" Flagship of Captain John Barry, commanding- 
North Atlantic and West India Squadron, July, 1798; took part 
in the capture of the French letters of Alarque "Le Sans Pariel" 
and "Le Joloux," North Atlantic Ocean, fall of 1798; Lieutenant, 
May 21, 1799; o'"' Frigate "United States," Captain John Barry, 
Atlantic and West Indian Squadron, 1799 to 1801. 



War with Tripoli, Africa, 1801-1805. Richard Somers. 
Lieutenant; ordered to and served on Frigate "Boston," Captain 
Daniel McNiel, Mediterranean Squadron ; Captain Richard Dale, 
July 30, 1801, to October, 1802; in command of schooner 
"Nautilus," Mediterranean Squadron, Captain Edward Preble, 
May 5, 1803, and joined the fleet in the blockade off the harbor 
of Tripoli, March, 1804; Master Commandant, May 18, 1804; 
in command of the Right Division of gunboats in the several 
attacks and bombardment of the city of Tripoli, August 3, 7, 24, 
28 and September 3, 1804; volunteered and took command of 
Ketch Intrepid (fireship), to attack and destroy the Tripolitian 
fleet in the harbor of Tripoli, September 4, 1804; officers and 
crew killed September 4, 1804, in the harbor of Tripoli by the 
blowing up of the vessel ; Congress, by a resolution passed March 
3, 1805, expressed their "deep regret for the loss of those gallant 
men whose names ought to live in the recollections of a grateful 
country and whose conduct ought to be regarded as an example 
to future generations." 

L. L. T. W. 

(From "Records of Officers and Men of Nezi' Jersey in JVars, 
lyig to 18 1 3:") 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 53 

EARLY MORAL LAWS OF NEW JERSEY 

(Published Many Years Ago in the Nezfark Daily Advertiser) 

" 'Concerning the beastly vice, drunkenness,' the first law 
inflicted fines of one shilling, two shillings, and two shillings and 
sixpence, for the first three ofifences, with corporal punishment, 
should the offender be unable to pay ; and if unruly, he was to be 
put in the stocks until sober. In 1682 it was treated more rig- 
orously : each offence incurred a fine of five shillings, and if not 
paid, the stocks received a tenant for six hours ; and constables, 
not doing their duty under the law, were fined ten shillings for 
each neglect. This increase of punishment indicates a growth 
in the vice, which may have been attributable in part to the re- 
moval of restrictions on the sale of liquors in small cj^uantities 
which had previously been imposed. 

"In 1668 each town was obliged to keep an 'ordinary' for the 
relief and entertainment of strangers, under a penalty of forty 
shillings for each month's neglect ; and ordinary-keepers alone 
were permitted to retail liquors in less quantities than two gallons. 
In 1677, the quantity was reduced to one gallon. In 1683, ordin- 
ary-keepers were debarred the privilege of recovering debts for 
liquor sold, amounting to five shillings ; but whatever good this 
might have done was destroyed by the assembly authorizing 
others than keepers of ordinaries to retail strong liquors by the 
quart. In 1692, 'forasnuich as there were great exorbitances and 
drunkenness observable in several towns, occasioned by tolerat- 
ing many persons in selling drink in private houses,' an attempt 
was made to establish an excise ; but the following year it was 
repealed, and the licensiilg of retailers confined to the governor. 
"The observance of the Lord's day was required, by abstain- 
ing from all servile work, unlawful recreations, and unnecessary 
traveling; and any disorderly conduct could be punished by con- 
finement in the stocks, fines, imprisonment, or whipping. In 
1704, under the administration of Lord Cornbury, many of the 
early prohibitions were re-enacted ; but by that time, it would 



54 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

seem, the use of ardent spirits began to be considered necessary, 
keepers of public houses were not to allow 'tippling on the Lord's 
day, except for necessary refreshment.' 

"Swearing, or 'taking God's name in vain,' was made pun- 
ishable by a shilling fine for each offence, as early as 1668, and 
such continued to be the law until 1682, when a special act pro- 
vided that the fine should be two shillings and sixpence ; and 
if not paid, the offender was to be placed in the stocks or whipped, 
according to his age, whether under or over twelve. 

" 'All prizes, stage-plays, games, masques, revels, bull-bait- 
ing, and cock fightings, which excite the people to rudeness, cru- 
elty, looseness, and irreligion,' were to be discouraged and pun- 
ished by courts of justice, according to the nature of the offence. 
Night-walkers or revelers, after nine o'clock, were to be secured 
by the constable till morning ; and, unless excused on examina- 
tion, to be bound over to appear at court. Tlie resistance of 
lawful authority, by word or action, or the expression of disre- 
spectful language referring to those in office, was made punishable 
either by fine, corporal punishment or (as from 1675 to 1682) 
by banishment." 

"In 1676 all liars were included — for the second offence in- 
curring a fine of twenty shillings; and if the fines were not paid; 
the culprits received corporal punishment, or were put in the 
stocks." 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 55 



INDIANS 



Lenni Lenape 



The Red Alan's history in New Jersey, after the arrival of 
the white man and his fire water, is anything but heroic. The 
Lenni Lenape, one of the Delawares, were of the great Algonkin 
family of Indians whose many tribal branches were scattered 
along the Atlantic seaboard from Labrador to the Everglades of 
Florida. 

The name Lenni Lenape signifies, according to the different 
translations, "Old Men,"" the Original or Pure Indian. The Dela- 
ware (Lenni Lenape) nation occupied the territory now com- 
prising the State of New Jersey and lived along its river valleys 
because of the abundance of easily acquired and nature provided 
food. 

The original Lenni Lenape was described by the early writers 
as being almost lovable in his hospitable simplicity, but when a 
half century had given the white man's liquors and the inter- 
mixture of bloods a chance to show what they could do, it devel- 
oped that the red man was not what he once had been ; he was 
not possessed of the white man's mental power to resist tempta- 
tion of over indulgence. As an act of charity, he was placed be- 
yond beckoning temptation upon a reservation, tlic first in the 
United States. This tract of land consisted of 3000 acres, near 
Edge Pillock or Brotherton, now known as Indian Mills. The 
Lenni Lenape remained on this reservation until 1S02, when 
they joined their fortunes with the Mohigans and removed to the 
State of New York. 

They removed again at a later date to Wisconsin (Green 
Bav) and ultimately to Indian Territory. 

The last act of the Lenni Lenape drama or tragedy occurred 
when the New Jersey Legislature appropriated $2,000 in 1832 
to extinguish all the right, title and interest which the Lenni 
Lenape held or might hold against the Colony or State. 
From "Litre of Long Branch of Xew Jersey," by 

George B. Somerville. 



56 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



Indian Burying Grounds Uncovered 

While building Edgewater Avenue at Pleasantville, yester- 
day, workmen exhumed eight Indian skeletons. This new street 
is on the bay side of the shore road, north of X. Disbrow's 
blacksmith shop, through the estate of the late Josiah Risley. Be- 
tween the road and the meadows, is a hill or shellmound, where 
for ages the Redmen of the forest opened oysters ; these mounds 
are found all along the bays through the county, from Leeds 
Point to Somers Point. This is not the first time skeletons have 
been found, also tiint arrow heads and other relics. One of the 
skulls found yesterday was incased in a turtle's shell, with clam 
shells and arrow heads around it. 

This is supposed to be the remains of the famous old chief, 
Kin Newongha, members of wh'„^rc tribe zi'i'.l 'ive along the shore, 
and the others were his original v/arrior.,, who helped him to scalp 
the forest. Four more have since been fo.nid. — 

Ncicspapvr clipping dafcd Jan. sS, i^'po, co:itrihuicd by 

Joseph R. Moore. 



Second Indian Burying Ground "Exhi:med" 

Our Pleasantville reporter testifies to the authenticity of the 
statement, here made regarding the exhuming of the Indian 
skeletons. 

It appears while Jesse Risley was at work on a tract of 
land between the shore road and the meadow edge a few davs 
since, he (hr^- up a skeleton and on the succeeding three days two 
more. ( )n Thursday he was assisted by Ezra Adams and six 
were exhumed. On Wednesday four were dug up and one on 
Thursday: in all 14. Several flints and six arrows were found 
with the 1 ones. The ground where the skeletons were found 
lies on top of a hill, and it is surmised that they have been buried 
at least 150 years, as the ground has been farmed for nearlv that 
length of time. The mound whore the bones were found is onlv 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 57 

60 feet wide and about the same length while the skeletons were 
about three feet under ground. All the bodies were facing Lake's 
Bay, and it is supposed that the remains are those of Indians, 
although there is a difference of opinion on the matter.— 

A A'cu'spal^c}' clipping dated Feb. i, 190^, contributed by 

Joseph R. Moore. 



Cranberry Indian Legend 

Way back in the misty ages of "long ago," there is nought 
but twilight and through that twilight, comes this legend of 
the cranberry and the Bog ; also that the beasts of the forest 
were giants, and roved at their own sweet will over the wilds of 
West Jersey. 

Among them the Mastodon was king in strength and fe- 
rocity, and for this reason was chosen by the Indians as their 
helper — their beast of burden. He. rebelled at servitude, and in- 
sisted the other beasts should share the burden — they would 
not, then came the crash of war. The sky scowled, the stars 
wept, the earth shook, but the mighty beast fought on. Ijlood 
flowed, the slaughter was terrific ; the roar was heard in the 
adjoining states like unto an earthquake ; from this tremendous 
outpour of blood, the earth became as a sponge, so deep that the 
sun's rays could not penetrate. It was unsightly, noisome, a bog, 
un.til the good Lord in his mercy covered it with a soft green 
blanket. In time little heads came up through this blanket, as if 
to see the light of day; now. either of their birth in this bloody 
muck, or that they blushed in their own temerity, they became a 
bright red and man called them '"Cranberrie," and pronounced 
them good. 

M. R. M. Fish. 



58 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



SLAVES IN NEW JERSEY 

From Barbour's History 

There is no record when slavery was introduced into the 
Colonies, though it is known that it was universal in Europe for 
loo years before America was discovered, and there is every 
probability that it was coeval with its very earliest settlement. 
We know that even New England with its strict religious code 
was not exempt ; labor with few exceptions was done entirely 
by negroes, who, compared with the great amount of work to be 
done, were few in numl)er. 

The Duke of York (brother of Charles II) to whom he 
granted the Province, was at this time President of the "Royal 
African Slave Company." 

When Lord Cornbury was appointed Governor of this Prov- 
ince, Queen Anne instructed him to negotiate with the said 
Co)iipa)iy that "The said Province of New Jersey may have a 
constant and sufficient number of merchantable negroes at a 
moderate price in money or comodities," and that a bounty of 75 
acres of land be given to every man who does either bring or 
send a slave over 14 years old, "for three years, the bounty dimin- 
ishing each year until at the cntl of the third year, his or her 
master receive 30 instead of 75 acres." There was a duty on the 
importation of negroes and mulatto slaves. 

That there was tr()ul)le from the earlier records we find in 
Jan. 26th, 1733, a negro was burned alive for assaulting a white 
woman. 1734 all the negroes of the Province of West Jersey 
were invited to see a negro hung for urging a "Rising of negroes 
that they too should be free." In 1737 New Jersey had 3981 
slaves. 

Pertli Amboy was the distributing center and slave vessels 
landed there, the old barracks in wliich they were confitied until 
disposed of, are still remembered. In 18 18 a cargo of kidnapped 
negroes shi])ped from Perth Aml)oy, were seized in New Orleans, 
not having a manifest as required by law. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 59 

A Newspaper Item 

Dec. 12, 1818. 

"Certain men dealers who carried off some negroes from New 
Jersey, after the law was passed to stop the trade in human flesh, 
have been caught in Pennsylvania and we hope they will meet 
their reward." 

As early as 1696 the Quakers strongly advised the abolition 
of slavery, among themselves, preparatory to asking others to 
do so, and societies were established for this purpose. 

1784, Governor Livingston, of New York and New Jersey, 
joined for the emancipation of slaves, and freed his only two. 
Though much feeling was displayed against it, the first effort 
by law was in 1804 when the infants of slave parents were born 
free. In 1820 all children of slave parents were made free by 
law, notwithstanding" which, in i8_;o, there v/ere still 674 slaves 
in New Jersey. 

Note — In 1662 the Royal African Company was incorporat- 
ed. At the head of it was the Duke of York, and the King him- 
self was a large shareholder. 

Slaves at Bargaintown 
L. J. Price 

We are indebted to Mrs. Aner Farrish for information. On 
the beginning of the road between the two old mills at Bargain- 
town, now where the placid waters of Bargaintown mill pond 
lie, was once a cedar swamp, through which flowed Patcong 
creek. Bordering this swamp was the home of one Somers, a 
slave holder, and of the family which were ancestors of Mrs 
Farrish. 

This swamp was a barrier to easy communication with the 
people across the swamp. In order to have passage, other than 
the long way around by the roads, Somers offered liberty to 
his women slaves if they would build a way through the swamp. 
The road originally was stepping stones, carried by the slaves in 
their aprons. Later we have been told the stream was dammed, 
and a road constructed by bags of sand, being piled until an 



6o 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC C(JUXTY, N. J, 



embankment was made. Tradition tells iis this was also the 
work of Somers' slaves. 

Man}-, many long years after, abont the summer of 1903, the 
dam which held the waters of the stream l)roke, and the waters 
of the pond quickly Rowed out. Where the bridge had been, 
on which one was wont to stand and watch the water fall, was 
now only a yawning chasm, through which trickled a tiny 
stream ; and the bed of the pond bare, save for the many stumps, 
mute witnesses of a glorious forest long since passed away, and 
the dark soil of the pond's bed sprinkled with grass, and the 
sluggish stream which had made the pond, flowing slowly on. 

Months passed without repairs being made, public officials 
claiming that the pond being private property, the repairs should 
be made by the owners. After months of inconvenience to the 
public, the road was repaired, the late Dr. F. F. Corson offering 
to furnish sand necessary for the repairs. 




:mi.£A'^.-a:i 



The Mill at B.\rgaintown 



iiARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 6l 



SOME OLD WILLS 

Will and Lwentory of Richard Willits 
Salem, 1759 

No. 958 A, Bk. 13, fol. 174. 

Secretary of State's Office, Trenton, A^. J. 

In the name of God amen. I Richard Wihits of the town- 
ship of AUovvay Creek, in the County of Salem and Province of 
West N. Jersey, being through the abundant mercy and goodness 
of God, of a sound and perfect understanding and memory, 
calHng to mind the mortahty of my body and knowing that it is 
appointed of all men once to die, do make and ordain that this, 
my last Will and Testament that is to say : 

And first of all I give and recommend my soul into the 
Hands of the God that gave it, and for my body I commit it to 
the Earth, to be Buried in a Christian like manner, at the discre- 
tion of my Executors Hereafter mentioned. And as touching 
such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in 
this life, I give, devise, and dispose of the same, in the following 
manner and form : 

I give and bequeath unto Sarah my beloved wife, the sum of 
One Hundred Pounds lawfull money of the Province aforesaid, 
also my whole movable Estate, Excepting Bonds for Money and 
One Negro Woman, named Zelpha, and I further order her to give 
passes to Negro Ned, and Ishmael and Benjamin to go and work 
for themselves. When each arrive at 30 years of age I order 
them that they shall come and work for her in hay time and she 
to pay as much wages as if they were white men. 

I give unto my beloved son Richard W^illis 30 Pounds. 

I give unto my beloved daughter Elizabeth Stilwell 30 Pounds. 

I give unto my beloved daughter Deliverance Birdsill Ten 
Pounds. 

I give unto my beloved son, Amos Willis Ten Shillings. 

I give unto my belovetl daughter ^.lary Buntin (Bunting) 
30 Pounds. 

I give unto my beloved grandson Richard Stilwell, 5 Pounds. 



62 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

I give unto my beloved brother John W'ilHs of Cape May, it 
being on my son Amos' account, seven Pounds. 

I give my Negro Adam Three Pounds. 

My will is that the remainder of my Estate I give and be- 
queath to my well beloved sons Richard Willis and Machai Willis, 
to be equally divided between them. 

I do constitute, make and ordain my well beloved wife and my 
well beloved son Richard whole and sole executors of this my last 
Will and Testament, and I do hereby disallow, revoke and Dis- 
annul all and every other Former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, and 
Executors by me in any ways before this time named, willed, and 
bequeathed. Ratifying and Confirming this and no other, to be 
my last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto 
set my Hand and seal this Thirty First Day of December, Anno 
Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Seven. 

(Signed) RICHARD WILLETS. 

Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced and declared by the said 
Richard Willets. 
As his last will and Testament in the Presence of us 

John Test 

Elizabeth (*) Weithman 

RoBT. Nichols 

March 2d, 1759, by Robert Nicholas and John Test and that 
"Elizabeth Waithman was present" ]\Iay 24th, 1759, by sig- 
nature of both Executors. 

Apr. 1 6th 1759, Thomas Sayer, Saml. 

Wood. 
100 Bonds 2 Notes no names. 
I pr. high Chest of Drawers and old 

chests. 

I Gun and S])inning Wheels. 

Cattle in the Salt Marsh and other Cattle. 

Negro Slaves. £200-00-0. 
Proved and Probated 

at Salem. Household furniture. Farming implc- 

., . . f , . ments and Hooks. 

Abstract of Inventory. 

Amount, £ 880-4-8. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 63 

Probated at Salem, Abstract Inventory App. 

Proved May 24th, 1759, affirmed by Samuel Wood 

and Executors. 

On small piece of paper is written, 
My man Ned was born i8th of January, 1734. 
My man IsHmael was born 15th of Sept., 1739. 
My man Benjamin was born 6th of April, 1753. 

This will contributed by a direct descendant, ]\Ir. Robert M. 
Willis, of Pleasantville, New Jersey. 



Some Abstracts of Colonial Wills Betw^lln the Years 1702 

AND 1738 OF Great Egg Harbor, Gloucester County, 

Province, W'Est New Jersey 

Madam President and Members of Atlantie County Historieal 
Society: 

It seems from the history of New Jersey, that from about 
1680 it was the practise to deposit Wills, with Provincial Secre- 
taries, by whom they were filed or recorded. These records 
were brought together about 1790, in the office of the Secretary, 
at Trenton, where they are carefully preserved. 

It has been well said, "That the History of a Nation is but 
the aggregate of the Biographies of its people," and surely the 
Will and Testament of a person or persons, gives us glimpses 
©f their history, or histories, as nothing else can do. We get 
pleasant glimpses of generosity on part of some Testators, again 
read between the lines of family tragedy, also of romance, also 
some testators with a tine sense of equity, as one testator devised 
"Half of my cattle and movable goods to children of my first 
wife, half to children of my second wife," also the grotesque 
as one wishes, "Doctor Robeson to dessect me." One with an 
eye to economy, warns his executors against paying the Doctor 
any "extorsnit bills." We also get an echo of slavery days in 
New Jersey, as one inventory includes "Two negroes, and a 



64 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

covenanted servant." Another will, the testator wished "to be 
praised by two reasonable men." Our colonial sires, were not 
exact spellers, as one speaks of debts, as "Dets dangerously dew 
my estate." One letter of administration issued "To hee theay, 
or bee whoe itt will." We can also see where our colonial 
ancestors, not only "enjoyed poor health" but enjoyed a funeral, 
as the following bill presented for settlement will show: "Bill 
for rum, sugar and spices £1 13s. For a barrel of cider, nine 
shillings, all at the funeral." It is charity for us to suppose "all 
at the funeral" was to drown their sorrow in, or with. 

The following abstracts of Great Egg Harbour, New Jerse}'. 
Wills is copied from Wills at Trenton and I will add here that I 
have written this paper at some disadvantage, as I have very 
little New Jersey history accessible. However I submit this 
paper to your charitable judgment. 

The first abstract I have is dated 1702. Nov. 2nd, Jonas 
V^alentine, of Great Egg Harbour, Gloucester County, New Jer- 
sey ; wife, Grace ; children, Jonas, Richard, Grace, Deborah, Eliza- 
beth, Martha, Sarah. Wife executrix. Witnesses, Lubbett Guy- 
sebuss and William Leeds, Sr. Inventory made by Daniel Leeds 
and W^illiam Lake. 

1702, Nov. 30, Peter Conover, of Weymouth Township, 
Gloucester County, New Jersey; wife Mary; children, Peter, 
John, David, Hester, Mary; 150 acres, between Francis Collings. 
and Jonathan Leeds. 150 acres between John Scull and James 
Steelman, Wife executrix. Witnesses, John Somers and Thomas 
Oliver. Inventory of personal estate made by John Somers and 
Richard Gregory. 

1716, iVIarch 22nd, William Lake, of Great Egg Harbour, 
New Jersey; wife Sarah; sons, Nathan and David; three daugh- 
ters, names not given. Executor John Scull. Inveiitorv bv John 
Cozier and Peter Scull. 

1719, May 27tli. Jonathan Adams, of Great Egg Harbour; 
wife Barbara; children. Jonathan, John, Abbigail, Margaret, Re- 
becca, Sarah, ]\Iary, Dina, Phebe. Executors, Wife and Peter 
White. Witnesses, Daniel and Elizabeth Ingersol. Thomas Green. 

1720, Oct. 30, Samuel Gale, of Great Egg Harbour; wife, 
Mary ; daughters. Dinah, Sarah ; stepson, David Conover ; neph- 
ew, vSanuicl I lowell. Home-farm and 85 acres of cedar swamp, 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 65 

Executors, Jonathan Adams and Thomas Risley. Witnesses, 
Richard Risley and Jonathan Adams, Jr., and Ambrose Copland. 

1 72 1, Dec. 18, Daniel Harkcnt, of Great Egg Harbour, wife, 
Sarah ; children, Daniel, Richard, Desire Nichelson, who has 
sons, Nehemiah, John, Samuel, Thomas. Executors, Peter White 
and Jonathan Addams. W^itnesses, James Howell, Richard Man- 
nery and Thomas Green. 

1723, May nth, William Davis, of Great Egg Harbour, 
Administrator of Estate, Joseph Leeds. Inventory made by 
Peter and John Conover. 

1727, March 29, Joseph Dole, of Great Egg Plarbour, W^ife, 
Hannah. Executrix, to sell property, with the consent of her 
brothers, Richard and James Somers, children mentioned but 
not by names. Witnesses, David Collings, Daniel Ingersol, 
Bridget Somers. Inventory includes a "Great" Bible made by 
Daniel Collings and William Cordery. 

1730, June 26, Peter Covenover, of Great Egg Harbour, 
Wife, Elizabeth ; children, Peter, Isaiah, Thomas, Micajah, Alary, 
Judith. Executors, Wife and Brother John. Witnesses, Samuel 
Huested and John Watts. 

1734, James Steelman, of Great Egg Harbour, Wife Kath- 
erine ; "one-half my movable estate, excepting my slaves." Execu- 
tors, Wife Katherine and Son John ; children, Andrew, Hance, 
John, James, Elias, Peter, Mary, Susannah ; granddaughter, Su- 
sannah. Witnesses, Nathan Lake, Edward Oiser, Solomon Man- 
nery. 

1737, Oct. 12, Hannah Somers, of Great Egg Harbour; chil- 
dren, Richard, Samuel, Job, Edmund, Millicent ; grandchildren, 
children of Hannah Ingersol, not mentioned by name, grand- 
daughters, Hannah Somers and ]\lillicent Somers ; son, Richard 
Somers, sole executor. Witnesses, Daniel Ireland and Judith 
Steelman. 

1736, Andrew Steelman, Sr., of Great Egg Harbour, Wife, 
Judith, sole executrix ; wife Judith to have her third while she 
remained a widow ; children, Andrew, Frederick, James, Peter, 
Mary, Judith, Susannah. "My sons may buy or sell one to an- 
other, but not otherwise." Witnesses, Daniel Ireland, John Wells 
and Alexander Fish. 



66 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

It is not probable that this is a complete list of abstracts of 
Great Egg Harbour Wills, between year 1702 and 1738, but in 
closing I may be permitted to say that with more time to explore, 
and digest material, I could satisfy my own ideal more fully. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Emily Steelman Fisher. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 67 



OLD GLOUCESTER COUNTY 

From Hall's Daily Uniox History 

Gloucester County at one time extended from the Delaware 
to the Sea, including what is now Camden, Atlantic and Glou- 
cester Counties. Camden was made a county by An Act of 
Legislature, passed March 13, 1844, seven years after Atlantic 
County had been created. On Feb. 7, 1837, An Act was passed 
creating Atlantic County. There were then only four large 
townships or voting places in this county. Egg Harbor, Wey- 
mouth, Hamilton and Galloway. Mullica was created later out of 
Galloway, and the town of Hammonton out of Mullica. Buena- 
A'ista, in 1867, was created out of Hamilton and Atlantic City 
set off from Egg Harbor Township in 1854. The first deed was 
recorded by J. H. Collins, the first County Clerk, on ]\Iay 4th, 
1837, and was for 40 acres of land in Egg Harbor Township, 
sold by D. Robart and wife, to Samuel Saunders. The first 
Will was made by David Dennis and witnessed by Joe West, 
willing to his two sons, David and Joel, the "Jack Pudding 
Cedar Swamp." ( The present President of the Plistorical Society 
is the daughter of Joel Dennis). The will was probated seven 
vears after. Samuel Richards and v^^ife gave the Board of 
Freeholders the lot at May's Landing for the county buildings, 
by deed dated May 25, 1838, and the present Court House was 
soon erected thereon. 

At the annual meeting of the Board of Freeholders, of 
Gloucester County, held in ]\Iay. 1836, 28 members constituted 
the board, while at the annual meeting on the loth of ]\Tay, 1836, 
20 members composed the body. The townships of Hamilton, 
Wevmouth, Egg Harbor and Galloway, having been set ofif from 
Gloucester County, forming a new county called Atlantic, by 
An Act of the Legislature, passed the 7th day of Feb. A. D., 
1837. At this meeting commissioners were appointed to value 
the public buildings at Woodbury, the Almshouse property, and 
other assets of the County of Gloucester, and to ascertain what 
])roportion of such valuation would be due to the County of 
Atlantic, according to the ratio of population determined by last 



68 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J, 

census. The commissioners appointed for Gloucester County 
were : John Clement, Elijah Bower and Saunders ; for Atlantic 
County, Daniel Baker, Joseph Endicott and Enoch Doughty. 
These gentlemen met at the Court House in Woodbury, on the 
9th day of May, 1837, ^^ 10 o'clock, and were each sworn or 
afifirmed faithfully, and impartially to value the public properties 
of Gloucester County, which appears as follows : 

Two tracts of land in Deptford Township; adjoining 
lands of John Swope ; containing 248 47 100 
Acres $ 850 00 

Movable property at Almshouse 3^728 00 

The entire Almshouse lands, with the buildings and 

improvements 16,150 00 

The Court House, Jail, Clerks and Surrogate Offices, 
with their contents ; with all other Property at 
Woodbury, "including the man O'Hoy" 11.400 00 

Total $32,128 GO 

From which deduct the debt of the County 7-93- 55 

Balance to be divided between the two Counties . .$24,195 45 

By the census taken in 1830, the County of Gloucester con- 
tained 28,431 inhabitants. Of that number 8,164 were con- 
tained in the townships of Galloway, Egg Harbor, Weymouth 
and Hamilton, composing the new county of Atlantic, its pro- 
portional share or part was placed at $ 6,947 75 

Gloucester Count}-'s proportional share 17,247 70 

Total $24,195 45 



EARI.Y HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J, 69 



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Daniel Baker Esq 
Dear sir 

Our ticket was selected o?i thtirsday last— it consists of John C. 
Smallwood couticil—Jos ir Cooper Jas W CaUhvell David C Ogden John 
Richards assembly— the Jeeling is very strong in favor of a division of the 
Cotmty and no one was selected on the ticket imtil it was ascertained that he 
was in favor of dividing the County (unless it be Mr Richards and Mr 
Thackray of Haddonfield said that Mr R would be in favor of the division) 
I do not think that anyone ivould have been placed on otir ticket if he had 



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have declared himself unfriendly to the division — unless you 'should be deceived 
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Very Respectfully }'ours 

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72 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



THE OLD FORT AT SOMERS POIXT 

One of the Oldest Historical Landmarks in Atlantic 

County 

The construction of Bay avenue at Somers Point compels 
the removal of one of the oldest historical landmarks in the 
county, which is the hillock, or the site on which it was erected 
during the Revolutionary War and was the only fort in this 
vicinity. It was erected by Atlantic County enterprise, and by 
our county's old population, the cannons and equipments being 
furnished by the state. At that time was stationed at Somers 
Point eight companies of foot soldiers, and two of cavalr\-, at 
that time called horse guards. 

The troops were commanded by Col. Thomas Doughty, an 
old county resident, of whom }>Irs. Japhet Townsend and Ely 
Doughty, of Linwood, are the sole descendants. The removal of 
the fort calls forth many sad reminders from the old inhabitants 
in this vicinity. We have often heard their parents tell of the 
exciting times of those days. During the war several war ships 
were brought into Great Egg Harbor inlet by the L'nitcd States. 
Noticeable was the Belvidue or Bellview which vessel had on 
board a crew of whom even the officers w^ere filthy and covered 
with that small insect — the louse. This vessel was towed into 
the harbor and the small channel running from it into Steelman's 
bay was given the name of Lousy Harbor and still retains the 
name to this day. 

So far 15 cannon balls, weighing three and one-half jwunds, 
and two weighing seven pounds each have been unearthed from 
the fort. As relics they command from 50 cents to $1.00 apiece. 
The cannons were removed 1816, having done duty in preventing 
hostile forces from landing by way of Great Egg Harbor inlet. 
Several houses were demolished by the enemies' vessels. The 
fort being built of sand withstood shot and shell. There are to- 
day a number on the pension rolls for services rendered at this 
fort; at English Creek and Bargaintown ; two at Bakcrsville. one 
in Smiths Landing and one in Atlantic City. — Mrs. Harriet Scull. 
fro>n a Nczi'spopcr Clipping. October 8, 1887. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



73 



CoNTRiHUTKi) Bv J(;sEPn R. Moore 

The older inhaljitants of Somers Point remember being 
told by their parents of a time when all the men of the place 
were away and a British vessel was seen coming in the inlet. 
The women hurriedly gathered all the children and put them to 
tramping up and down amid the high weeds growing on the 
shore, shaking boughs, of trees, to make it appear as if a large 
body of men were getting ready for defense, while they banged 
the cannon and old guns left them. The British were so de- 
ceived that they turned and hurried from the inlet and were 
not heard from again. — Mrs. J. JVJicaton. 




'The Hero of Tripoli' 



74 EARLY HISTORY CP ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



CARDING ^IILL. 

By L. J. Price 

The carding of wool like other industries of our county is 
now only a matter of history. On Lake's Creek, Scullville, be- 
fore or near the time Atlantic County was created, Thomas Bevis 
built a mill for the carding of wool, and preparing sumac for 
market trade. 

The mill was about forty feet long, and twenty feet wide. 
It was a one story structure, with a loft. One portion of the 
mill was built on piling, the remaining portion resting on the 
ground. The preparation of the sumac for market was an im- 
portant feature of the mill's business. The leaves were dried 
and crushed beneath stones, not unlike mill stones of the grist 
mills. The sumac when prepared was shipped by boat, principal- 
ly to the New York markets. 

The machinery operating the mill was enclosed in a box-like 
compartment underneath the mill, in which for a time a rattle- 
snake made its retreat. When the machinery was running the 
snake would hum ; the sound was similar to the singing of 
locusts. 

We are indebted to Mr. Joshua Scull for this information, 
who until recently was the owner of the property on which the 
mill was located. The late Dcnman Bevis, whose death was 
comparatively recent, remembered the building of the mill. 

About a half ccp.tury ago when the industry was abandoned, 
the machinery was taken apart and carried by boat to New 
York, the vessel loading at Jefiferies Landing, commanded by 
Jonathan Smith. Mr. Scull tells of various experiences with 
rattlesnakes along Lake's Creek. 

Once as Mr. Scull was driving home with two children, Mr. 
Scull at the time walking by the side of the wagon, saw a rattler 
suddenly spring on to one of the wagon wheels, and as the 
wheel turned around, sprang: to the front wheel. Calling to the 
children to guide the horrc and walking backward, so as not to 



EARI.Y HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 75 

lose sight of tlie snake until he could procure a stick with which 
he killed the reptile. One of the children was Mr. William 
Collins, who were enroute to their grandparents, INIr. and Mrs. 
Alpheus Bevis. We can hardly realize at this day of portions 
of our county being infested once by a' serpent so dangerous 
to man. 

Mrs. Deborah Jane Anderson, of Somers Point, tells us 
that when a child, she would go with her father to the carding 
mill with wool to be carded; wool that was the product of his 
farm. 



76 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



CLARK'S OLD LOG MEETLXG HOUSE AT PLEASANT 

MILLS. 

In 1758 a rude church or meeting house was built at Sweet- 
>^ water, now Pleasant Mills, by Dr. Elijah Clark, an old-time min- 
ister. Being built after the primitive style of the period, this 
old log meeting house was twenty-five by thirty feet, ceiled witii 
cedar boards and covered with cedar shingles. 

The site of this first rude church, which was known for 
many years as Clark's Log ^Meeting House at the forks of the 
Little Egg Harbor, is still pointed out as being upon practically 
the same spot as the present Methodist Church in the pine grove 
on the margin of the old cemetery, where sleeps several gen- 
erations of the villagers. Reverend Allen H. Brown,, a zealous 
Presbyterian minister and synodical missionary, says Clark s 
little log meeting house stood at the juiijjtion of Atsion and Batsto 
Creeks, at what is now Pleasant ]\Iills in Mullica township. It 
is also stated that this meeting house was ten or twelve miles 
from the site of the Clark's ]\lill Meeting House, near Port 
Republic. 

Clark's Log Meeting Plouse was a free meeting house to all. 
It had no settled pastor, but was used by preachers of all denom- 
inations. In his journal of 1775, Reverend Philip V. Fithian 
mentions the names of twenty-seven Presbyterian ministers who 
had i)reachcd in this l(\g church. Few in our day can appreciate 
the unlettered teachings of the itinerant preachers and the plain 
manner of living of those whose race was run in rougher paths 
than ours. Reverend Simon Lucas, a Revolutionary soldier, 
was one of the primitive Methodists who officiated in this old 
church twenty years or more before it gave ])lace to a larger and 
more sightly edifice which was erected in 1808, is still standing 
and is known as the Pleasant Mills Methodist Church. 

This sketch is from notes taken from "Ileston's Hand Books" 
and "The Daily L^nion History" by John F. Hall. — JJ^riftcn by 
Max Bli::ahcth I r clan. 



78 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



THE CALLING OF THE MILITL\ FOR THE WAR OF 

1812-1815. 

Nearly two months before war was declared between the 
United States and Great Britian. New Jersey had begun to place 
herself in a condition to defend her sea, coast and harbor. An 
Act of Congress called the militia into service, April loth 1812. 
War was declared June 18th 1812, five thousand troops were 
required of New Jersey as her portion. The Uniformed Alilitia 
at that time consisted of 2500 men. 

March 24, 1813, the Governor issued a general order from 
his headquarters at Elizabethtown, enjoining upon every en- 
rolled militiamen to provide himself with a good musket or 
fire lock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a 
knapsack, a pouch to contain not less than 24 cartridges, suited 
to the bore of his musket, each cartridge to contain sufficient 
quantity of powder and ball; or if a rifleman with a good rifle, 
knapsack, shot pouch and powder horn, 20 balls suited to the 
bore of his rifle and one-fourth pound of powder; or if a dragoon 
with a serviceable horse at least i4''/> hands high, a good saddle, 
small pillion, a valise, holsters, a breast plate and cupper, a pair 
of boots and spurs, a pair of pistols, sabre, a cartouch box, to con- 
tain cartridge for pistols. 

Act of Congress authorized the president to organize, arm 
and equip according to law, a nnlitia to hold in readiness to march 
at a moment's notice, to suppress insurrection and repel in- 
vasions. The said militia not to be compelled to serve a longer 
time than six months, after arriving at place of rendezvous, re- 
ceiving the same pay and rations and emoluments as the I'liited 
States army when in service. "Section 5 — And be it further 
enacted that in lieu of zvhippiui^ as provided by several rules and 
articles of war, as now used and practised , stoppage of pay, con- 
finement and deprivation of part rations be substituted. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 79 

ARTILLERY COMPANY, THIRD REGIMENT, GLOU- 
CESTER BRIGADE 

Robert Smith, Captain 

This company was organized Feb. 12th, 1S09, and was at- 
tached to the Second Battalion, Third Regiment, Gloucester Bri- 
g'ade, New Jersey Mihtia, and "having vokinteered for the pro- 
tection of the maritime frontier," in accordance with section 8, 
of the mihtia law of Feb. 12th, 1814, was ordered into service 
during the war of 1812-15 by Governor Pennington. In the 
call of troops made by the Governor, Aug. 12th, 1814, this com- 
pany was exempted from details "having volunteered to per- 
form certain services." The company was enrolled for duty at 
Smithville, Gloucester (now Atlantic) County and was stationed 
at Leeds Point and Somers Point, and at other places on the 
sea coast, between Little Egg Harbor, and Great Egg Harbor 
rivers. The enemy atempted to land at Somers Point on one 
occasion and the company was called out to repel them. They 
appear to have had but one continuous tour of duty, which was 
from May ist to June 29, 1814, and for which they were paid by 
the State, by an Act of the Legislature, Feb. 8, 1816, but dur- 
ing all the rest of the year, they were always "prepared for 
actual service on any sudden emergency," and were called out 
several times by alarms along the coast for immediate defense of 
the state. They were finally discharged at the close of the war 
at Smithville, Gloucester Co., Feb. 19, 1815. 

NAME RANK ENROLLED PERIOD DISCHARGED 

Until 

Smith, Robert Captain May 1, 1814 Relieved Feb. 19, 1815 

Endicot, Joseph First Lieut. " " " 

Endicot, John . . . . .Second Lieut. " " " 

Endicott, William First Sergt. " " 

Smallwood, Levi Sergeant " " " 

Morse, Nehemiah . . . . " " " " 

Kindle, Joseph ..... " " " " 

Smith, James " " " " 

Kindle, Daniel, Sr Corporal " " " 

MCCollum, Malcolm . . " " " " 

Shores, Joseph " " " " 

McCollum, Samuel ... " " " " 



8o 



liARLY IIISTOlvY OF ATLANTIC COLTNTY, X. J. 



NAME 



RANK KN'KOLLHD 



Johnson, Joseph Druninier May 1, 1814 

Mathls, Reuben Drummer 

Risley, Leeds Fifer 

Adams, Evy Private 

Adams, John " 

Adams, Thomas " 

Bates, Joab " 

Bell, Joseph 

Bennett, Wm 

Blackman, James .... " 

Bowen, John 

Bowen, Joseph 

Brewer, John " 

Burnet, Joshua " 

Clifton, George " 

Conover, Absalom " 

Conover, Adam " 

Conover, Eliakim " 

Conover, James " 

Conover, Job " 

Conover, John 

Conover, Josiah 

Conover, Macajah 

Conover, Peter 

Conover, Somers " 

Conover, Wm 

Cordery, Daniel 

Cordery Edmund .... " 

Delap, Samuel " 

Doughty, Abner " 

Doughty, John " 

Doughty, Nathaniel . . " 

Doughty, Thomas .... 
Endicott, Benjamin . . " 

Endicott, Jacob 

Endicott, Nicholas .... " 

Garwood, Joseph 

Giberson, James 

Giberson, Jesse 

Giberson, John " 

Grapewine, Huston ... " 

Hewitt, Aaron " 

Higbee, Absalom 

Higbee, Edward 

Higbee, Enoch 

Homan. Daniel " 



PERIOD 

Until 

Relieved 



DISCHARGED 



Feb. 19, 1815 



EARLY HISTORY OT^ ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



8l 



NAME RANK ENROLLED PERIOD DISCHARGED 

Until 

Homan, David Private May 1, 1814 Relieved Feb. 19, 1815 

Homan, Eli 

Homan, John 

Homan, Mahlon 

Horn, Isaac 

Ireland, Daniel 

Ireland, Vincent 

Johnson, Wm 

Kindle, Daniel, Jr 

Kindle, Thomas 

Leeds, Cornelius 

Leeds, Jesse 

Leeds, Reuben 

Mathis Beriah 

McCollum, Daniel .... 

McCollum, Jesse 

McCollum, John 

McCollum, Samuel ... 

Morse, Joata 

Morse, Joshua 

Murphy, Thomas S. . . 
Newberry, Daniel .... 
Newberry, Solomon. ... 

Parker, Jesse 

Risley. Eli 

Risley, John " " ^ ,^ 

Scull, Daniel " ' ^^ ,, 

Scull, Gideon 

Scull, James 

Scull, Paul " " "^ ,, 

Shores, David 

Smallwood, Samuel ..." 

Smith, Isaac 

Smith, Jonathan " " ^^ 

Smith, Noah " " ^^ 

Somers, Joseph " " ^^ ,, 

Somers, Richard " " ^^ ,, 

Somers, Wm " " ^^ „ 

Sooy, Benjamin " " ^^ ^, 

Sooy, Nicholas " "^ ^^ ,, 

Sooy, Samuel " ^^ „ 

Strickland, Eli 

Strickland, John " " ^^ ,, 

Strickland, Samuel ... " " _^ ,, 

Thomas, Aaron " " ^^ ,, 

Turner, John " ^^ ,, 

Weeks, Vincent " ^^ „ 

Weldon, Gideon " " L L T W 



82 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUXTY, N. J. 

COAIPAXY OF IXFAXTRY, FIRST REGLAIEXT, 
GLOUCESTER BRIGADE. 

John R. Scull, Captain 

This Company was org-anized A]:)ri] 14th, 1814, the officers 
commissioned May 6th, 1814, and was called a N'olunteer Com- 
pany, First Battalion, First Regiment, Gloucester Brigade, Xew 
Jersey Alilitia. During the month of May it volunteered "for 
the protection of the maritime frontier." in accordance with 
section of the militia law of Feb. 12th, 1814, and was ordered 
into service during the War of 1812-15 by Governor Penning- 
ton. 

In the call for troops made by the Governor, Aug. 12. 1814, 
this company was exempted from the detail "having volunteered 
to perform certain services. The company was enrolled for duty 
at Somers Point, Gloucester County (Atlantic County) and was 
stationed at Somers I'oint, and along the seacoast, to Cape 
May. They appear to have had but one continuous term of 
duty wdiich was from ]\Iay 25th, 1814, to June nth, 1814, and for 
which they were p3.'u\ by the state by Act of the Legislature, 
Feb. 9. 1815, but during all the rest of the year they were al- 
ways "prepared for actual service on any sudden emergencv," and 
were called out several times by alarms along the coast, for the 
immediate defense of the State. They were finally discharged at 
the close of the war, at Somers Point, Gloucester Co., Feb. 12th, 
1815. 

NAME RANK ENROLLED PERIOD DISCHARGED 

I'ntil 

Scull, John R Captain May 25, 1814 Relieved Feb. 12, 1815 

Scull, Samuel First Lieut. 

Holbert, Levi Second Lieut. 

Frambes, Job Third Lieut. " " 

RLsley, Samuel Ensign " " 

Frambes, David First Serg't. " " 

Dole, Zachariah Sergeant " " 

Scull, Israel " " " 

Lake, Samuel " " " 

Somers, Richard I " " " 

Pine, John Corporal " " 

Reeves, Thomas " " " 

Robinson, Isaac " " " 



EARLY HISTORY Of ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



83 



NAME RANK ENROLLED 

Hisley Robert Drummer May 25, 1814 

Gifford James M Fifer 

Adams, James I'rivate " 

Adams, Jeremiah .... " 

Adams, Jonas " " 

Adams, Solomon " 

Albertson, Jacob " " 

Barber, John " 

Bartlett, David E 

Beaston, John " " 

Blackman, Andrew ... " " 

Blackman, Andrew B. . " 

Blackman, Thomas . . " " 

Booy, Derestius " " 

Booy, Joseph H " " 

Burton, James " 

Chamberlain, Jesse. ... " " 

Chambers, Jesse " 

Champion, Enoch .... " 

Champion, John " " 

Champion, Joseph .... " " 

Clayton, Joel " " 

Clayton, John " '" 

Cordery, Absalom .... 

Delancy, Samuel " " 

Doughty, Daniel " 

Doughty, Enoch " " 

Doughty, John " " 

Edwards, Daniel 

English, Daniel 

English, Hosea " ". 

Frambes, Aaron " " 

Frambes, Andrew .... " " 

Gauslin, Stephen 

Godfrey, Andrew " 

Hickman, Andrew .... " 

Holbert, Ebenezer .... " " 

Ireland, Clement 

Ireland, David 

Ireland, Elijah " " 

Ireland, Job " " 

Ireland, Thomas " " 

Jeffers, Andrew 

Jeffers, Daniel " " 

Jeffers, Evin " " 

Jeffers, Nicholas " " 



PERIOD 

Until 
Relieved 



DISCHARGED 

Feb. 12, 1815 



84 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



name; 



ENROI,I.ED 



Jeffers, John Private May 25, 1814 

Jeffers, Wm 

Laird, Enoch 

Lee, David 

Marshall, Jesse 

Mart, Daniel 

Mart, John 

Morris, Richard 

Price, David 

Price, John, Sr 

Price, John, Jr 

Reggins, John 

Risley, Jeremiah, Sr. . . 
Risley, Jeremiah, Jr. . . 
Risley, Nathaniel .... 

Risley, Peter 

Risley, Richard 

Robarts, John 

Robinson, John 

Scull, Andrew 

Scull, David 

Scull, John S 

Scull, Joseph 

Scull, Richard 

Somers, Damen 

Somers, Edmund 

Somers, Isaac 

Somers, James 

Somers, John Jr 

Somers, John Sr 

Somers, Joseph 

Somers, Mark 

Somers, Nicholas 

Somers, Samuel 

Somers, Thomas 

Smith, Abel 

Smith, Enoch 

Smith, Isaac 

Smith, Jacob 

Smith, Jesse 

Smith, Zophar 

Steelman, David 

Steelman, Elijah 

Steelman, Francis .... 
Steelman, Frederick . . 
Steelman, James 



PERIOD 

Until 

Relieved 



DISCHARGED 



Feb. 12, 1S15 



l^ARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



85 



NAME 

Steelman, Jesse . . . . 


RANK ENROI.I.ED 

. .Private May 25, 1814 


PERIOD 

Until 
Relieved 


DISCHARGED 
Feb. 12, 1815 


Steelman, Peter C. . 
















Steelman, Reed . . . 
















Steelman, Samuel . 
















Tilton, Daniel 
















Townsend, James . . 
















Townsend, Japhet. . . 
















Vansant, Joel 
















"Wilkins, Joseph . . . . 
















Wilsey, Martin 
















Winner, Joseph . . . . 
















Winner, John 

















L. L. T. W. 



86 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

ATLANTIC COUNTY 
By L. L. T. W. 

Atlantic County is bounded, northeast by Burlington County. 
southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, south by Cape ]\Iay County, 
southwest by Cumberland County and northwest by Gloucester 
County. 

It is about thirty miles long, by twenty wide and was formed 
from the eastern part of Gloucester County in 1837. The prin- 
cipal streams are the Great Egg Harbor, running through it 
nearly centrally ; the Little Egg Harbor, separating it from Bur- 
lington County ; and the Tuckahoe, on its southern boundar_\-. 
These streams are navigable for many miles. Atlantic County 
is divided into five townships. 

Egg H ardor Township 

Egg Harbor Township, formerly called Great Egg Harbour, 
is the oldest township in Atlantic County. 

It formerly comprised all that portion of Gloucester County 
lying southeast of Deptford Township and included all of what 
is now Atlantic County. 

From it have been taken the various municipalities which 
comprise Atlantic County, starting with Galloway Township in 
1774. which cut off from the northeastern portion or approxi- 
mately that ])ortion northeast of the Camden and Atlantic Rail- 
road. Then Weymouth Township in 1798, which took that por- 
tion between the Tuckahoe River and the Great Egg Harbor 
River. Then Hamilton Township in 181 3, which took that por- 
tion northwest of Miry Run. Mullica was formed from Gallo- 
way in 1838, and since, the Cities and Boroughs along the beach 
and Shore Road, leaving in the Township at the present time 
the strip of meadow land between Absecon Beach and the Shore 
and from the northwest boundaries of the Shore Road Munici- 
palities to Hamilton Township, between the Great Egg Harbor 
River and Galloway Township. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 87 



Old Galloway Township 

George The Third, hy the grace of God, of Great Britain, 
France and Ireland, King defender of the faith, etc., to whom 
these presents shall come, greeting: 

Know Ye, That we of our special grant, certain knowledge 
and mere motion, have given and granted and hy these presents 
do give and grant, for us and our successors, to the inhahitants 
of the northeast part, of the township of Great Egg Harbor, in 
the county of Gloucester, in our Province of New Jersey, wherein 
the following boundarys, to wit : Beginning at a pine tree stand- 
ing on the head of the north branch of Absequan Creek, marked 
on four sides; on the southwest side lettered E. G., and on the 
northeast side X. W., and from thence running north forty-five 
degrees eighty minutes west (the eighty minutes must be an 
error in the records), sixteen miles a quarter and a half quarter 
to a pine tree standing southwest, sixty chains from the new 
road, and near a small branch of Penny Pot, and in the hue of 
the former township aforesaid, and marked as aforesaid; and 
thence running by the aforesaid line north forty-five degrees 
east, nine miles to Atsion branch, thence down the same to the 
main river of Little Egg Harbor ; thence down the aforesai 1 
river. In- the several courses thereof to the mouth ; thence south 
thirty-five degrees east, six miles and a quarter through the Great 
Bav of Little Egg Harbor, to the southwest end of the flat beach 
at Brigantine Inlet ; thence southwesterly, crossing the said Brig- 
antine Beach and the sea at Absequan Inlet ; thence north sixty 
degrees west, five miles, crossing the sounds and Absequan Bay 
to Amos Ireland's Point, near the mouth of Absequan Creek ; 
thence bounding bv the several courses thereof un said creek, 
and north branch of Absequan to the pine first named, and place 
of beginning, to be and remain a pernetual townshin and com- 
munitv in word and deed, to be called and know'n by the name 
of the Township of OM Galloway. And we further grant to the 
said inhabitants of the township aforesaid, and their successors, 
to choose annuallv a Constable, Overseer of the Poor, and Over- 
seer of the Highw'avs of the township aforesaid, and to enjoy 
all the rights, liberties and imnnun'ties thus any other township 



88 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J.' 

in our Province niay of right enjoy. And the said inhabitants 
are hereby constituted and appointed a township by the name 
aforesaid, to have, hold and enjoy the privileges aforesaid, to 
thena and their successors forever. In the testimony wlicreof, 
we have caused these letters to be made patent, and the Great 
Seal of the Province of New Jersey to be hereunto affixed. 
Witness our trusty and well beloved William Franklin, Esq.. Cap- 
tain General, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over 
the Province of Xew Jersey and territories thereon depending 
in America. Chancellor ami \'ice Admiral of the same, etc., the 
fourth day of April, in the fourteenth year of our reign, Anno 
Domini one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four (1774). 

The first line was run from the head of Absequan to the 
head of Gloucester Township line, June the first, seventeen nine- 
t\-seven. 

WEYMOI'TM 

An Act for dividing the Township of Great Egg Harbor in 
the County of Gloucester, into two separate townships. Passed 
February 12, 1798. 

Be it enacted by the Council and General Assembly of this 
State, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the .^ame. 
That all that part of the Township of Great Egg Harbor lying 
to the west and southwest of the said Great Egg Harbor River ; 
to wdt : Beginning at the mouth of the Turkey hoe River; thence 
up the middle of Great Egg Harbor River until it meets the line 
of Deptford Township ; thence along the said line to the line 
between Cumberland and Gloucester County, thence down said 
line till it intersects the line between Gloucester and Cape May; 
thence down the middle of Turkeyhoe River to the place of be- 
ginning shall l)e and the same is hereby set ofif from the town- 
ship of Great Egg Harbor, and the same is hereby established 
a separate township to be called by the name of 'AVcvmouth." 

H.\ MILTON 

An Act to inc(M-])orate into a townshi]) a part of the town- 
ships of Great Egg Harbor and Weymouth, in the count v of 
Gloucester by the name of Hamilton. Passed I'ebruary 5, i<Si3. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 89 

Be it enacted by the Council and General Assembly of this 
State, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. 
That 'all that part of the Townships of Great Egg Harbor an 1 
Wevmouth in the County of Gloucester lying within the follow- 
ing' bounds: Beginning in the line of the Townships of Great 
Egg Harbor and Wevmouth at the mouth of Aliry Run, where 
it empties into Great Egg Harbor River; thence running up the 
middle of said Miry Run the several courses thereof to the head 
of said run; then a northeastwardly course until it intersects the 
line of Galloway Township; then along line of Galloway and 
Great Egg Harbor Townships northwestwardly until it mtcr- 
sects the^ine of the township of Gloucester; then along the line 
of the townships at Great Egg Harbor and Gloucester, south- 
westwardlv and still on the same course in the line between the 
Township 'of Wevmouth and Township of Deptford, Greenwich, 
and Woolwich, until it intersects the line of the County of Cum- 
berland; then in the line of the Counties of Cumberland and 
Gloucester, southeasterly to a station in said county line, where 
a course corresponding with the southwardly line of the West 
Jersey Society's large re-survey will strike the southwest corner 
"of said re-survev ; then along the said southwardly line of the 
West Jersey Society's re-survey to Great Egg Harbor River; 
then down 'the said river the several courses thereof to the 
mouth of Mirv Run aforesaid, being the place of beginning, 
shall be and is herebv set off and made a separate township, 
to be called by the name of "The Township of Hamilton." 

BuENA Vista 

All that part of the Township of Hamilton contained within 
the following bounds, to wit: Beginning at a corner common to 
the counties of Gloucester and Atlantic in the Cumberland Coun- 
ty line, and running thence in the line of said Atlantic County 
northeastward to a corner of the incorporated town of Ham- 
monton in the middle of a road laid down and marked on the 
maps of the late Weymouth Farm and Agricultural Company s 
land and called third road ; thence along the middle of said third 
road as laid down on said map southeastwardly to a point in the 
middle of Seventh Street at the intersection of said third road. 



90 ^ARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

with said Seventh Street ; thence along the middle of said Seventh 
Street, southwestwardly on the course of said Seventh Street 
extended until it intersects the west line of a re-survey made 
to the West Jersey Society for 78,060 acres ; thence along said 
west line of said re-survey about 10 degrees east until it inter- 
sects the north line of Weymouth Township ; thence along the 
north line of said Weymouth Township, westwardly to the east 
line of Cumberland County ; thence northwestwardly along said 
Cumberland County line to the place of beginning. Approved 
March 5, 1867. 



EARLY HISTOl.Y OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 9 1 

THE NAMLXG OF ATLANTIC COUNTY 
By Cornell\ C. Frink 

The late Dr. Jonathan Pitney, of Absecon, was calUng on 
my grandfather, the late Daniel Baker, of Bakersville, it being- 
his custom to do so quite frequently ; they were great friends. 

As the Doctor was leaving at this particular time, my 
grandfather went with him to the door; and as they stood on 
the porch conversing, the Doctor turned and said : "Jwdge, what 
name shall we give to the new county?" The Judge stood for 
a moment, looked over towards the ocean, waved his hand and 
said, "Doctor there is the wide broad Atlantic Ocean, what name 
more appropriate than Atlantic County." 

It was near sunset when this conversation took place. 



ORIGIN OF TOWX NA^JES OF ATLANTIC COUNTY. 
By M.' R. M. Fish 

In looking for the reason of the naming of towns and 
villages through this county there has usually been a store named 
after its proprietor, later the name was given to the localitv; 
hence Scullsville, Stcelmanville. English Creek, Smiths Land- 
mg, Mays Landing, Somers Point, etc. These names represent 
large families, one of which kept a store, and later a post office. 

Pleasantville is an exception. When Daniel Lake built his 
new store in Adamstown he went across the street to Daniel 
Ingersol, wheelwright, for a board to paint on the new sign. Air. 
Ingersol offered to give him the board for the privilege of nam- 
ing the store ; this granted. Air. Ingersol called it Pleasantville. 

Years after, when Adamstown, Lakestown and Alartstown 
were consolidated into a Borough, it retained this name, as it 
had probably been in general use. 



92 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Smith's Landing— A boat landing owned by Smith. Used to 
send produce and freight by water. 

Northfield — The station was first named Dolphin, the name 
given by Jenkin, Real Estate Agent. 

Bakersville — \)y Judge Baker, who also named Atlantic 
County. 

Linwood — First Leedsville, from Leeds Store. When giv- 
en a post office, there being one of this name in Xew Jersey, it 
was changed to Geneva, one in Xew York and Xew Jersey, 
causing confusion. The ladies met in the school house and de- 
cided on Linwood. 

Sea A'iew — There were but a few places on the Shore Road, 
giving a view of the ocean, south of Pleasantville ; one of them 
is from the back porch of Hagerty's Store ; when it became the 
post office it was named Sea View. 

Bell Haven— By \Vm. Bell. 

Launch Haven — By Campbell, Mayor of Somers Point. 

Somers Point — Large land holdings of Somers family. 

Risley Town — Risley family. 

Bargaintown — Tlie center of activities of Egg Harbor Town- 
ship, with a grist mill, a saw mill, and the only post office be- 
tween Somers Point and English Creek. The mother of the 
Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist churches, the voting 
center for the township. There was every indication of a grow- 
mg town, to attract speculators who bought and laid out town 
lots. . These hopes not materializing, the lots were sacrificed and 
were bought at a bargain by John Ireland, hence the name Bar- 
gaintown. 

McKee City — The station was first called English Creek 
and changed to McKee City. When Col. McKee, of Philadel- 
l)hia, bought a large tract of uncultivated land, divided it into 
truck patches. ])ut on the necessary buildings and leased it to 
(Germans on terms to clear certain amount of land as rent each 
year. I'efore this was accomplished he willed it to the Catholic 
Church for a monastery and Industrial School for Boys. The 
will being contested the property at this date (Jan. 22, 1914) is 
lying idle awaiting court decision. 

CarlilT. I'leasantville Terrace, Oak Crest, and lUenheim 
named by jn-omotcrs. 



EARLY HISTORY OP ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 93 

MAY'S LANDING 

By L. L. T. Willis 

May's Landing was settled over two hundred years ago. 

Among the first settlers appear the names of Wescott, Steel- 
man, Champion, Gaskill, Pennington, Rape, Norcross, Baker, 
Abbott, Adams, Wheaton, Wicks, Dougherty and May. 

The Great Egg Harbor River at that time was navigable for 
vessels of a i,ooo-ton or four-masted ship. 

The [)rincipal exports were wood, charcoal and iron ore, the 
vessels loading near the present site of the cotton mill and near 
the bridge at Sugar Hill. The Harrison was one of the vessels 
sailing from May's Landing, Captain T. D. Endicott sailing her. 

Other vessels were sailed by Captains John Bowen, Shep- 
pard Hudson, George Cramer and Bassett Steelman. 

There were several shipbuilding establishments owned by 
J. Pennington & Son and James Baker. 

The iron foundries were owned by McCurdy, Stephens, A. L. 
Izard and William Bartlett, grandfather of Sheriff Bartlett. 
There were also two charcoal furnaces, one being at Weymouth. 

The mode of travel in the early days was by horseback.. Men 

and women alike making the trip to Philadelphia in the saddle, 

following Indian trails and slowly making them wider and better. 

Mrs. Champion, great aunt of Captain Thompson, has often 

made the trip in the saddle. 

As time went on and the necessity for travel became greater, 
a stage coach route was established. 

Mr. William Norcross was the proprietor of the stage from 
May's Landing to Philadelphia. 

Mr. William Norcross, Jr., and Mr. Rape were drivers of the 
stage. The route took one through W^eymouth, Pennypot, Long- 
acoming (now Berlin), the White Horse Pike and Philadelphia. 

The coaches were the regulation stage, with baggage cage 
at the rear. 

There was also a stage coach which went to Absecon and 
Somers' Point, which started out from May's Landing. 

After the railroad was built through Egg Harbor the stages 
were a thing of the past, but the coaches were used to take pas- 
sensrers from May's Landinsr and vicinitv to the trains. 



94 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COTXTY, X. J. 



About this time there was a band of robbers had their lair 
back of May's Landing, and one morning they very quietly and 
uniquely cut the baggage rack away without stopping the stage. 

May's Landing was made the county seat in 1837; previous 
to this time Gloucester County included all of what is now At- 
lantic County, with the county seat at Woodbury. 

The first court ever held in May's Landing was held in the 
hotel of Captain John Pennington, 1837-38. 

The Court House was built in 1838 and has since been greatly 
improved. 




Mill Dam and Fai.f.s at May's Landing 

The ])rescnt site of the Methodist Church and graveyard 
were given the town as a free place of worship by "Richard 
Wescott, vSr.," of Great Egg Harbor Township. The original 
<leed is still in existence and bears date of May 20, 18 12. 

Tlie graveyard is still under the government of a board of 
trustees, although there have been no burials in it for some vears. 

The dam was built aI;ovc the cotton mill to supply water 
for a factory, and this slowly closed up the river, as the sand 
naturally clogged and made the river too shallow for vessels, 
taking away its old industries, leaving the wharves and few hulls 
of old vessels to remind enc of the ha-)nv busy davs. 



KARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 95 

ANECDOTES OF PLACE NAMES 
By L. J. Pki Cl- 
in 1880 with the building of the Pleasantville and Ocean 
City Railroad, from Pleasantville to Somers Point, by the Phila- 
delphia and Atlantic City Railway Company (Narrow Gauge), 
the railroad connected Ocean City and Somers Point, by steam- 
boat, being the first medium of railroad communication Ocean 
City had with Philadelphia and the outside world. The Somers 
Point post office included all of the shore territory from Somers 
Point to where the Country Club is now located. 

The postmasters for many years had been appointed from 
Leedsville (Linwood) where the office was located; the mail 
being overhauled at Leedsville, (Linwood) and carried to two 
or three points for local distribution. All mail on the shore 
including Bargaintown. was carried by stage from Absecon to 
Somers Point. Bakersville, Seaview and Somers Point might 
be termed sub-offices. 

With the advent of a railroad and a building boom, Somers 
Point desired the post office to be located within its borders. 
Leedsville (Linwood) as a distributing point must be retained. 
There being a post office by the same name in the northern part 
of the state, the Federal authorities required Leedsville (Lin- 
wood) to change its name. 

The citizens gathered in the schoolhouse, now occupied as 
the Citv Hall, one evening to vote for their choice of names 
presented. Geneva, Brinola, \'iola, Pearville. and a number of 
©thers were placed on the blackboard for approval. Pairville 
was suggested, perhaps humorously by the late Dr. S. C. Ed- 
monds, from the (|uantities of Bartlett pears raised in the village. 
Geneva was generally favored for the town's new name. 

Leedsville (Linwood) was the home of several prosperous 
sea captains, and of men with large interests in vessel prop- 
erty. A (lav or so after the selection of the new name by Job 
Frambes, of Bargaintown. Uncle Job, as he was familiarly 
called, then in his nineties, the great grandfather of our assistant 
secretarv, (Miss Mattie Collins), was in Leedsville. 



96 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Feeble in body, nearly blind, and partially deaf, but still 
retaining a keen sense of humor, when told the new name of 
the village replied, "Yes, Live Easy." Again being told Geneva, 
he replied with a twinkle in his fading eyes, "Yes, Yes, Live 
Easy, Live Easy," to the amusement of his hearers, who recog- 
nized the application of the prosperous citizens. 

But yet another name must be chosen from the similarity 
of the abbreviations X. Y. and X. J., the officials at Washington 
called for another name. Linwood was the name chosen. 



NAMIXG UXCLE TOM'S 

The Custom House at Somers Point, like the post office, 
was located in Leedsville. The late Thomas E. ^lorris, through 
the sixties to the eighties, was the deputy collector, and the work 
of the office was conducted in a small building on the shore 
road, at ^Ir. Alorris" home, a short distance above what is now 
Bellhaven Avenue. After the building of the railroad to Somers 
Point for the accommodation of the Custom officials, trains were 
stopped at the road mentioned. 

Stopping of trains in all pr()l)ability did not occur until 
the acquisition of the road by the West Jersey Railroad Com- 
pany in ]\Iay or June, 1882. The late Israel S. Adams being a 
director of the West Jersey Railroad, and Collector of Customs 
of the port of Great Egg Harbor, from 1861 until the time of 
his death. December 1884. 

The writer's father, the late Captain John Price, who also 
was in the customs service would ask the train crew to let him 
off at L'ncle Tom's. Later the late Captain William Ireland, 
whose home joined the ])ro])crty now owned by William E. Bell, 
offered to build a platform, providing the railroad company 
would stop trains for the accommodation of the public. After- 
ward the railroad company built a shed at the platform with 
the name of the station. Uncle Tcmh's painted on it. 

When Mr. Bell purchased the property where he now re- 
sides, the station was moved a little further down the track 
and renamed IJcll Haven. 

L. T. Prick. 



EARI^Y rilSTOLY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 97 



SHORE ROAD 

By L. J. Price 

From Heston's Handbook for 1904 we learn the first public 
road in Atlantic county was laid out in 1716. It led from Nacote 
Creek (Port Republic) along the shore to Somers Ferry at Somers 
Point. This road was altered by surveyors from Burlington and 
Gloucester counties in 1731. Previous to giving the new location 
of the road, they recited that the former road, laid out for the in- 
habitants of the township of Egg Harbor, from the east end of 
Somers Ferry, by reason of the swamps and marsh through which 
it passed, had become inconvenient to travel, and they had made 
application to Thomas Wetherill and five other surveyors from 
Burlington county and to John Eslick and five other surveyors 
of Gloucester county. These twelve surveyors having found the 
former road inconvenient, laid out the present Shore Road from 
Port Republic to Somers Point. 

The "Somers Ferry" between Beasley's Point and Somers 
Point, was established in 1865. 

Prior to building the Somers Point Railroad in 1880, about 
midway from the shore road and where the railroad lies, an 
indentation could be seen in the woods, between the property 01 
the late Captain Elijah A. Price and the late Dr. Jeremiah Hand. 
This indentation was twelve or fifteen feet wide. 

In this narrow open space grew no trees, but through tiie 
clean white sand, the sweet fern grew and "gently waved it-:; 
sweet wild way." Elders pointed out this space to the children 
as the old shore road. 



98 EARLY KISTOkY OF ATLANTIC COL-NTY, N. J. 

PRESBYTERIAXS IX XEW JERSEY 
From David axd John Braixard's Diakv From ijg^ to 1789 

\\'ith the landing of the Puritans began the missionary work 
in America. We can luiclerstand, that fleeing from persecution, 
for their reHgious ideals, and landing among a people recognizing 
a Spirit everywhere but not a God, their establishing homes, 
and working to convert those among whom they were living 
would go hand in hand. 

And there are records very early of missionaries in ]\Iassa- 
chusetts and Xew York in i7o.^), though the country about 
Freehold, X J., was a wilderness, full of savages. 

Gilbert A'ansant, a Presbyterian minister, was working 
among them with such marked success that when he was called 
to Xorfolk. Connecticut, in 1726, the Freehold Association "in- 
terposed tlicir judgment that he ought not to be taken from so 
destitute a region as the Jerseys." In 1/21 Presbytcrianism was 
in great disfavor. About this time there was a happy change 
in their favor. At this period W'm. Tenent's son from Ireland, 
removed to Xeskaming (1726) and there established a school 
Avhich in diversion was called the Log College, — afterward be- 
came a Theological Seminary (Princeton). The Prcsbvterian 
ministers who came across the ocean had enjoyed a liberal edu- 
cation and insisted that no man should enter the ministry without 
a college diploma. .\s there was no college in the ^^liddle States, 
those seeking to enter the ministry were obliged to go to Xew 
England or Scotland. This practically closed the door on all 
candidates and the cluu'ch liad to depend on emigration, chieflv 
from Ireland. Eleazar Wales was directed in 1734 to join 
with .Anduros in writing the President of Yale for a minister to 
visit the destitution of West Jersey. President Edwards answer- 
ed kindly that there was a prospect of obtaining help for them. 
Whitefield spread and exerted a powerful influence. This revival 
caused a schism in the Presbytery. In 1737 the Synod passed 
an act against the intrusion of ministers into the boundaries of 
other congregations, and in 1738 passed an act requiring that 
before granting a license to preach, the examining committee ap- 
pointed by Synod, re([uire a college diploma. This the Xew 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 99 

Brunswic Presbytery disregarded and after much contention and 
confusion. June ist, 1741, the Xew Brunswic party withdrew 
from the Synod. Hence the Old and Xew School. 

This was not the result of conHicting views, either as to 
■doctrine or church government. It was the result of the aliena- 
tion of feeling, regarding ministerial intercourse and avowed 
])rinciples during a revival and extraordinary times. 

The inconvenience of long distance from the Central Pres- 
bytery was felt and doubtless led to the formation of a more 
compact body. 1751 a number of the New Brunswic Presbytery 
petitioned to be erected into a distinct Presbytery. Accordingly 
the Synod of Xew York erected that part of saiil Presbytery that 
lies in Pennsylvania, with those who live in New Jersey, south of 
Philadelphia, bordering on the Delaware into a distinct Pres- 
bytery, named the Presbytery of Abington, organized ^lay 20th, 
1752. The churches of South Jersey flourished under its care 
so long as it existed from 1752 to 1758. In 1755 we find the 
first supplies mentioned for Egg Harbor and were appointed 
probably as often as once a month. 1758, after 17 years of sep- 
aration, the two synods were reunited. In consequence of this, it 
became necessary to reniodel the Presbyterians. Abington was 
merged into that of Philadelphia, with thirteen (13) members, 
of whom it is supposed, five labored among the nine churches of 
West Jersey. 

This time of peace in the churches was a period of war in 
the country. The first meeting of the reunited synod was a day 
of fasting and humiliation for sin was appointed. In 1775 Rev. 
P. V. Fithian journeyed from Cohansey to Egg Harbor, and the 
Forks of Little Egg Harbor, the first since Mr. Green's visit 14 
years previous. Several houses of worship had been erected in 
this time. P.eside preaching at private houses, he preached at 
]\Ir. Clark's little log meeting house, near Pleasant Alills, and 
Basto, where he met Mr. Brainard. next preached at Botherton, 
to I\Ir. lirainard's Indians, also at Clark's ]\lills meeting house, 
two miles from the present Port Republic, there was a farm 
house and an organized church, and he adds "they gave me 
Si.oo." 

Then he preached at Cedar Bridge or Blackman's Meeting 
House at Bargaintown, where a house was built of planks 
placed perpendicular. The deed of Blackman's meeting house 



I30 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

(Zion) was i^iven b_\' Andrew LJlackman. 1764 two other church- 
es are mentioned, one W'acHn River, in Uurhngton county, for 
which the land was given by the will of John Leak, 1777. Prob- 
ably it had been occupied previously. The other was Longacom- 
ing (Berlin) I7^>7. Mr. Fithian was surprised how fastidious 
were the pe()])le in Egg Harbor, and especially at the Forks. 

In estimating the effects of the war upon the churches of 
New Jersey, it is to be remembered that the state was the battle 
ground of many a hard fought contest. British soldiery destroyed 
the church of John Brainard at Alt. IFjIIw and probably his 
dwelling. 

Six years after the war (1780), the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian church was held and reports 419 churches, 177 min- 
isters and 1 1 1 probationers. We hear of no more appointments 
for Egg Harbor, the Brainard churches, of Longacoming (Ber- 
lin) Waden River, Clark's Little Log Meeting House, Clark's 
Mill ]\Ieeting House, Blackman's Meeting Flouse and others now 
unknown, were neglected, abandoned, swept into oblivion, un- 
til in our own day the discovery of their burial grounds, deeds 
or ruins afford the Presbytery of New Jersey the first knowledge 
they ever existed. 

The individual churches of this denomination will be given 
in the next year's work of the Society. 

1843, the I'resbytery of West Jersey was transferred from 
the Synod of Philadelphia to the Synod of New Jersey, from 
which time we will consider the individual establishment of 
churches in this county in the next year's work of the Historical 
Society. 



EARLY HISTORY 01^ ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



lOI 



BLACKMAX'S ^lEETIXG HOUSE AT BARGAINTOWN 

Extract from Letter of Rev. Allen H. Brozvn to Rev. Thomas 
Brainard in 1^64. 

"Cedar Bridge Meeting House," called also Blackmail's 
Meeting House, was near the village of Bargaintown, and about 
ten miles southeast of May's Landing. It was built of planks 
nailed perpendicularly. 

The following extracts from a deed recorded in Trenton 
liber X., folios 407, 40S, a copy being certified by James D. Wes- 
cott, Secretary of State, will prove the existence of a Presby- 
terian Church and to whom the property belongs : 




ZiON M. E. Church, near Bargaintown 

"This Indenture, made the nineteenth day of March, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four, 
between Andrew Blackman. Cordwainer, of Egg Harbor, in the 
county of Gloucester and Province of X^ew Jersey, of the one 
party, and Joseph Ingersoll, John Scull, Joseph Scull, and Return 
Babcock, of the aforesaid township, county and province, of the 
other party, Witnesseth, that the said ^Andrew Blackman for and 
in consideration of the sum of two pounds, proclamation money, 
to him in hand paid before the ensealing hereof, by Joseph Inger- 
soll, etc., etc. * * * hath granted, sold, etc., etc. '^ * * ; containing 
one acre, more or less, together with the mines, etc., * * * for the 



I02 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

erection, building and standing of a Presbyterian ^^leeting House 
for the carrying on of Publick ReUgious Worship for all that 
shall incline to meet and assemble in it ; together with a publick 
Burying-yard, for the interment of the deceased of all denomi- 
nations. * * * 

"A certain piece of land situated, lying and being in the town- 
•-hip of Egg Harbor, in the county and province aforesaid, near 
the Doles Branch. Beginning at a stake standing in the line of 
Joseph Doles and At wood, near the Branch, thence south 21 
degrees east. 15 perches to a stake, thence south 69 degrees, 
west 13 perches, thence north 21 degrees west to Atwood's line, 
bounded by Atwood's line north 80 degrees east to the place of 
beginning at Doles line, containing one acre, more or less, together 
with the mines, etc." 

Three years afterward. June 2. 1767, a memorandum was 
written on the back of the deed, explaining the views of the 
persons named, and proving that the house had been erected. 
It read as follows : — 

"We, the within Grantees, '•' ''■"' * having been chosen Trustees 
to carry on and manage the building of a Presbyterian Meeting' 
House upon the lands wathin granted and sold for that purpose, 
do hereby acknowledge that the said land and meeting house 
is not our own personal property, but is bought and built by a 
subscription of many persons ; neither do we claim any other 
interest in it but what we have in con.imon with all who have 
subscribed hereto ; and, though the legal title is vested in us, 
yet we hold it only in behalf of our constituents and do promise 
that it shall be kept as a house of publick worship and the land 
for a free Burying-yard, in wdiich all may have equal privilege> 
with ourselves, without monopolizing it or engrossing and ap- 
pl\ ing it to any jirivatc use of our ov.m. 

A memorandum whereof we leave on the back of this instru- 
ment that posterity may not be defrauded of their right or mis- 
taken about the intent thereof, which is to secure a House of 
Public Worship, as before mentioned. In testimony whereof, we 
have hereunto subscribed our names, hands, and seals." * '^' * 

Respecting the subscf|uent history of this house, we content 
ourselves with adding that, before it was decayed, the materials 
were removed, and upon a portion of the very site of the old 
building stands now a brick edifice. 



EARLY IIISTOI.Y OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 03 

HE VD OF THE RI\'ER CHURCH, 1702 
By Lauka Lavinia Thomas Willis 

The old 3-T. E. Church standing at the head of the Tnckahoe 
River has a history which is perhaps unequalled by any church 
of that denomination in South Jersey. 

It was built in I7<j2, and probably dedicated by Benj. Abbot. 
The first AI. E. preacher visiting these parts was a man named 
James, who in 1780, came on horseback to the house of David 
Sayers in a driving snow storm and asked permission to stay 
all night. Sayers had previously said that no Methodist preach- 
er should ever stay in his house. He was a very profane man, 
and James reprimanded him for his profanity. He did lodge 
there and from that visit Sayers became changed. His heart 
was touched and he professed conversion. ]\Iost of the ]\Ieth- 
odist preachers of that time were men sent over by Wesley and 
were under bonds of loyalty to the king of Great Britain ; al- 
though they said but little, yet some did act imprudent. They 
thought probably that the weapons of t'.ieir warfare were not 
carnal. Sayers at that time held a captain's commission of the 
continental army, hence the remark that no 3.Iethodist preacher 
shcHild ever lodge in his house. 

They arranged for preaching at Smith's ]\Iill. Jeremiah and 
William Smith who have left a large number of descendants in 
this section and it \vas mainlv througli their energy that this 
house was built, urged on by Abbot, who then travelled, what 
was known as Salem Circuit. That remarkable man seems to 
have had wonderful power over men. Great fruits attended his 
labors as he journeyed through Gloucester, Salem and Cape Alay 
counties, and perhaps did more to establish Methodism and 
built up the church than any other man, u:"iLil the coming of 
Pitman in 1831. 

The land was given by Daniel Benezet. a large land holder. 
The house was unfinished until 1813 when the floors and gal- 
leries were put in. Benezet died before the deed was given ; his 
heirs conveyed the property. One of his daughters, afterward 
the wife of Rev. Jos. Pillman, of Pillman Boardman fame, not 



I04 



iiARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



being of ag'e when she signe^l it, the deed was invahd and a 
new deed was given in 1813 by Joss. Jones and wife, commonly 
called "Coffee Jones." He also married a danghter of Benezet. 
He sold the adjoining |)ro])erty to Aetna Furnace property, at 
one time doing a thriving business. The chnrch was connected 
with Cumberland Circuit, embracing all Cumberland and Cape 
May counties, and began to have Sunday morning preaching. 
Thomas Xeal was presiding elder in 1835. He was also a man 
who did a great deal of good, and had strong faith. It is related 
of him th'it he was attending a camp meeting here. There was 




Old Church at IIkad of the Rivkr. Tuckahoe 



a protracted drought, the earth was parched and vegetation dy 



He retired into the woods and alone with God, he prayed 
for a drenching rain. He told the people to look out for there 
were signs of an abundance of rain. In the afternoon meeting 
thunder war heard, the heavens gathered l)lackness and soon 
there was a powerful rain in answer to ])rayer, as he believed. 

The clnu'c!"" was- struck oft' from the Cajie May Circuit in 
1830. Josenh / twood was then ]M'eacher witli Thomas \'an 
Gilder as first recording steward, still continuing" Sunday morn- 
ing preaching. There have been some very remarkable revivals 
of religion, the greatest the church ever enjoyed was in 1842, 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. IO5 

when William A. Brooks was preacher in charge, abont 130 pro- 
iessed conversion. Some fell away from grace, only four or five 
now remain and by far the larger share have joined the silent ma- 
jority. Tlie Sunday morning preaching continued until 1863 when 
the church, was repaired and set ofif with a station with preaching 
Sabbath morning by Jacob T. Price, whose labors were blessed 
by the conversion of seventy-five souls, most of whom remained 
faithful. 

It remained this wa\ until 1866 when it was reunited with 
Tuckahoe Circuit. 

In 1884 the grove adjoining the church was purchased of 
the "Estells" and nicely laid nut through the efiforts of Cap. T. 
Weeks, and others. Nearly all the old members of this church 
lie in this grave yard. Such men as Joscpli Champion, local 
preacher; Nathan S-.vain, exhorter, and an efficient man in 
church, Benjamin Wcathcrby, Sr., trustee: Alathias Steelman, 
Nathaniel Steelman, John Durley, Richard Sheppard and Rich- 
ard Champion, all who were official members of the church, 
and contributed liberally of their means for its support, and 
also others who esteeniecl it pleasure as well as a duty to journey 
to the Old Church every Sunda}^ morning. 

The names of the ministers who have officiated were : Rev. 
Jacob T. Price. J. F. Morret, C. W. Heisley, M. C. Stokes, 
H. J. Downs, William Margoram, William Lane, E. H. Mur- 
rell, J. B. Wcscott, William N. Osborne and Z. L. Dugan. 
The present Board of Trustees are : George L. Dukes, Presi- 
dent ; Samuel AI. Champion, Anthony I. Parker, Jr., Benjamin 
Wetherby, William Gofif, John Burley, all gentlemen of the high- 
est reputation and well known in their native village. 

The 123rd anniversary of Plead of the River Church was 
held on Sunday, October 10, 191 5. People come many miles to 
attend these anniversaries, which is made possible by automo- 
bile — which are in such numbers as to remind one of a great 
County Fair ; there are also large numbers of carriages. 

The church and cemetery are kept in excellent condition. 

The church has very recently come into two endowments — 
one of $1300, from Mrs. Swauger, formerlv a Miss Williams, 
daughter of one of the owners of the Aetna Furnace ; one of 
$300 from Mr. John Wallace. 



io6 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



One of the first Baptist Churches in South Jersey was directly 
across the road from Head of the River M. E. Church. The 
ground was given by Daniel Benezet, a Judge of Gloucester Co., 
who owned great tracts of land. 

It is supposed to have been built about the time of the M. E. 
Church. Xow there is no trace of a building ever having been 
there. In 185S the church was still standing. 




Aetna Fukn.\ch. Tlck.-\hok Rivkk 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I07 

HISTORY OF THE TUCKIHOE BAPTIST CHURCH 
By Morgan Edwards, A. M. 

This church is distinguished as above from the river which 
runs near the meeting house. The house measures 28x24. It 
was built in 1751, in Egg Harbor Township, and County of 
Gloucester, 60 miles southeast from Philadehphia. 

The lot on which it stands contains about one acre ; and is 
the gift of James Hubbard; his deed is dated May 15, 1750; the 
house is now in a ruinous condition, but the people are talking' 
of building" another in a more convenient place ; Alderman 
Benezet promises to give them land, timber, glass and nails ; there 
is another house which the church occupies, but is not their own ; 
it stands on May's Landing about 12 -miles off of this. 

The families which usually assemble at Tuckihoe are about 
60, whereof 63 persons are baptised, and in the communion, here 
administered the first Sunday in every month ; salary about 
20 pounds. The above is the present state of Tuckihoe. April 
14, 1790. 

In 1770 Rev. James Sutton came hither with a view to settle 
among them ; this put them on thinking of becoming a distinct 
church; accordingly, they were, July 23, 1771, incorporated, by 
the assistance of Revs. Vanhorn and Heaton. The names were: 
Rev. James Sutton, Joseph Savage, Esq., Jonathan Smith, Wil- 
liam Goldin, Jacob Garrison. Joseph Ingersol, Thomas Ireland, 
Elias Smith, John Ingles, Esc[.. Lemuel Sayres, Lemuel Edwards, 
John Scull, Isaac Scull, Katharine Garrison, Mary Goldin, Jane 
Ingersol, Debora Lore, Tabitha Scull, Mary Ireland, Elizabeth 
Garrison, Jane Camp, ]\Iary Camp, Abigail Scu'l and Catharine 
Weaver. The same year they joined the association. 

This church is the daughter of Dividing Creek. It has now 
existed 19 years and increased from 24 to 63. 

Rev. Benjamin Sutton resigned in 1772; Rev. William Lock, 
1773, resigned 1779; Rev. Isaac Bonnel, ordained pastor Sep- 
tember 17, 1783. 



I08 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Note. — On the last pag-c of this book is given a hst of sub- 
scribers and then goes on to say, "I have 150 copies left, they 
may be had at the stone house in Second street. Philadelphia; 
price, one-third of a dollar. "" This volume owned by the Phila- 
delphia Historical Society; size about 7x4 inches; is valued at 
$600.00. 

Headstones in r)a]:)tist Church Yard (is a thickly covered 
woods now) : 

Rev. F\Her Groom 

Pastor of the Baptist Church of ^^'est Creek 

Died Jan. 16, 1807 

Age, 56 

Anne Groom 

Wife of Rev. Robert Groom 

Died May 4, 1796 

Age, 46 Years 

Isaac Bonneli 

July 26, 1794 

In the 64th Year 

Robert Cam])bell 

vSon of 

Henry and Kllen Camj)bell 

March 20. 1854 

In 8th Year 

i\Iilliccnt Price 

July 28, 1826 

Age, 56 Years, 4 Days 

By L. L. T. Willis 



EARLY HISTORY OK ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



109 



OLD CHURCH AT WEYMOUTH 

By Laura Williams Colwell 

"The old Log Meeting House at Weymouth was built about 
80 years before the present building, along the banks of the great 
Egg Harbor River and seventy-five feet west of the one now 
standing."— L. W. C. 



In a beautiful oak grove on the high bank of the Great Egg 
Harbor River stands the neat little church at Weymouth. For 



'41^' f I -L / w, ft '^"^ \^ ^ ^' 



The Old Log Meeting House at Weymouth 

nearly a century it has served the purposes for which it was 
erected and in the adjacent cemetery are the graves of person? 
some of them long since widely known for more than ordinary 
talent and usefulness. Sir Joseph Ball, the Quaker merchant 
and relative of W'ashington, was one of the owners and founders 
of Weymouth, when this edifice was erected. From a recent 
sketch compiled by Airs. Charles R. Colwell and read at the 91st 
anniversary, the following is taken : 

"The building of the Weymouth ^Meeting House was begun 
in 1806 and completed in 1807 at the expense of the Proprietor 
of Weymouth. The time book shows the carpenter work to have 



no 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



been done by 'Eziel Prickett and his son," die former workiny^ 
three hundred and sixty-five days at $1.25 and the son three hun- 
dred and sixty-six days at $1 per day. The plastering and mason 
work was done l)y C. McCormick. the material and work on the 
building- coming to $3,690.00. The Weymouth Meeting House 
was intended as a non-Sectarian place for religious meetir.g, 
more especially for the benefit of employees of W^eymouth. Both 




ST]';phkn Coiavkll 



tradition and record show that it has been cliiclly used by Pres- 
byterians and Methodists, although services have been conducted 
and sermons preached by Episcopalians, Baptists. Dutch ]ve- 
formed and in February. 1825, a sermon was ]ireached by 'Aliss 
Miller,' presumably a Quakeress. No records are accessible of 
the occupants of the pulpit of Weymouth Meeting House from 
its completion until 181 3. From 1813 to 1845 the Time Books 
of Weymouth furnish the names of many i)reachcrs and dates 
of service." 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



I II 



At this time Sir Joseph Ball had sold all of his interc:!: in 
the Weymouth tract to his nephew, Samuel Richards, who built 
the Meeting House for the employees of his furnace. 

Sarah Ball Richards, daughter of Samuel Richards, married 
Stephen Colwell. 

She inherited one-half of Weymouth, and at the death of 
her sister, JNIrs. Elizabeth Richards Bell, Stephen Colwell bought 




Charles Richard Coiavhll 



her interest in the Weymouth tract, which tract covered 86,000 
acres or 12x14 miles wide. 

Stephen Colwell was born in Brooke county. West Vh-ginia 
©n the 25th of March, i8oo. He died in Philadelphia ni; the 
15th of January, 1871. nearly completing his 71st year. He 
studied law and was admitted to the T.ar in 1821 in Ohio. Prac- 
ticed law until 1836. He became a manufacturer of iron first at 
Weymouth and later at Conshohocken, Pa., on the Schuylkill 



112 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

River. He was a writer of note and recognized as a man of 
great ability. 

In 1852 Mr. Colwell drove Dr. Ua Costa and Mr. John Hay, 
of Winslow. in his family carriage to Absecon, there the\- took a 
boat across to Absecon Island and on that day decided to build 
the C. & A. R. R. 

Mr. Colwell ])ut in $150,000 — later the other gentlemen with- 
drew and Mr. Colwell -put in an additional $150,000. 

The first two years the road only ran to Ell wood Station 
(formerly Colville), and for 10 years one passenger car was rim 
behind the freight. 

The road did not pay for 20 years. 

Charles Richard Colwell. son of Stephen Colwell and Sarah 
Ball Richards was born in Philadelphia January 21, 1844; died 
April TO, iQOi. Mr. Colwell was one of the promoters of the 
Narrow Gauge Railroad and was president and afterwards re- 
ceiver when the Reading bought it in. He invested $350,000 
in the road. Mr. Colwell married Laura Williams Ritz, 

daughter of Judge Charles and Susan Williams Ritz, of Lewis- 
ton. Pa. 

Note. — It is through the efforts of Mrs. Charles R. Colwell 
that the anniversary services are held at Weymouth Meeting 
House each year, this being the iioth anniversary on September 
26th, 1915. 

Cannon were made at WcNinouth during the Revolution. .V 
cannon ball made at Weymouth is now used as a hitching i)ost on 
Water street, Philadelphia, and is marked with a W (W^eymouth). 

At the Anniversary Service in 1914, which was attended by 
the Atlantic County Historical Society. Rev. W' illiam A1)bott told 
of conducting a revival service at Weymouth and Zion in 1876. 
He said that at the first meeting he w'as to conduct at ^^'eymouth, 
he and Capt. Reuben Pabcock drove over and lost their way in 
the woods. Afterwards, most s])iritual meetings were held and 
twentv-eight converts made. He also stated that his father and 
one of the Richards family organized the first Sunday school here. 

This church was one of the early aj)])()intments of Rev. Ben- 
jamin Collins. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. II3 

There is a beautiful memorial talilet in the church bearing 
the following" inscription : 

In Memoriam 

Charles Richards Colwell 

Entered into Rest 

March 10, igoi 

"A friend of the poor." 

"A patron of Education" 

''An honest man, one of God's noblest works." 

This monument attests the sorrowing love of his wife. 



114 £ARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

• HISTORY OF FRIEXDS.1 1 1 P CHURCH 
XeaeLandisville Bv Charles Wray 

It is by no means an easy task that has been assi^^ned to 
me, viz. : to write a history of this church. Thoug'h 1 have 
known of it for perhaps over twenty years, yet I have had no 
connection with it except for the past four or five years. When 
you take into consideration the above statement, together with 
the fact that outside of the title deed, there are no 1)ooks or 
papers in the possession of the chiuxh Official ])Oard that afford 
even a suggestion of its history, you will perceive I spoke but 
the truth when I said mine was no easy task. If. under the 
circumstances, this paper should prove uninteresting, 1 trust in 
the foregoing statement I have said enough to secure your par- 
don and favorable consideration. Perhaps it would be as well 
to state here, that the reason why there are no books or papers 
available, is presumed to be because the church has always been 
one of perha]:)S three or four or half a dozen stations on one cir- 
cuit ; in its earlier days a very long circuit, too, with as many 
as sixteen preaching stations in 1854 and 1835. It is thought 
the records of all these churches were kept in one book, and that 
book was in the hands of the preacher in charge, who either 
retained the book in his possession after his pastorate had closed, 
■or he left it with the Poard of the ])rinci])al church on the cir- 
cuit, or in the hands of his successor. Friendship has always 
been a small church, therefore, the books or papers were never 
left with it. I also wish here to acknowledge my great indebt- 
edness to various old members of the church, and old residents 
of this locality, for whatever may prove of interest in this his- 
tory ; and especially am I indebted to liro. A. P. \'anaman, 
without whose memory and knowledge of the later events con- 
nected with the church, this paper could not have been pre- 
pared. 

The deed is dated Alay 14th, 1808, and is certified as re- 
corded in the Clerk's Office of Gloucester county, Nov. 4th, 
i8c8. There was no Atlantic Countv in those da\s, and this 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



115 



ground where the church stands was ]jart of Weymouth town- 
ship, Gloucester county. We think it a remarkable circum- 
stance that a Methodist church should have been located in this 
])lace at so early a date. The g-rcat Alethodist Episcopal Church 
was not organized until 1784, and was even then largely a 
distinct revival and reform movement within the Church of 
England, in America, as well as in England. As far as New 
Jersey is concerned, we believe this to be one of the oldest, if 
not the oldest ^l. E. church building in the State, now stand- 
ing and used for church pur])oses. There were, perhaps, a 
few built before this, but as far as we have been able to ascer- 




Frikndship Church near Landisville 



tain, none are now standing and used for worship regularly 
at this day. 

In 1808, this country was almost an unbroken wilderness, 
covered with a primeval forest, specimens of which growth 
we can yet see in some of these grand old oaks, which are 
still standing on the grounds of this church. The farms and 
clearings were few and far between ; the only one in the im- 
mediate vicinity was probably the place just across the New 
Jersey Southern R. R., on the Weymouth road, lately known 
as the "Bushey" farm, but which at the time the church was 
built, was owned by the Smith family. The dwelling house, 
which stood there in 1808, was burned down in September, 
1855, on which occasion three persons lost their lives, so sud- 



Il6 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

den and complete was the destruction. It has been rehably 
ascertained that previous to the erection of the church, re- 
ligious meetings were held in that house, and some, at least, 
were converted to God, though the exact number is not known. 
So that even previous to 1808 there were Methodists in this 
locality, and they were alive, too. In connection with the men- 
tion of the services held in that house, perhaps it would be well 
to state here, that we are enabled to assert positively that the 
church was erected at or about the time the deed was granted, 
b\' the fact that in 1852, an old resident of this locality, George 
Smith by name, came back here on a visit, and stated to Bro. A. 
P. Vanaman that he had left here in 1810, and the church was 
built before that, and furthermore that he was one of the persons 
converted at the meetings held in the dwelling house before 
spoken of. and that at that time the house belonged to the Smith 
family, the head of which was a close relative of the said 
George Smith, but whether a father or brother, Mr. \'anaman 
does not remember. 

]\Irs. Xancy A'anaman, mother of A. P. \'anaman. now 
in her 84th year, and present with us today, and one of the 
oldest residents of this neighborhood, distinctly recalls the church 
as one of the prominent landmarks when she was a little girl. 

Besides the "Bushey" place before mentioned, at the time 
the church was built, there was another dwelling on what is now 
known as the Collins place; another where Mr. Thomas Howell 
now lives, and another at or near Landisville. What is now 
known as the Buena Hotel, was also standing, and used as a 
public inn and change house on the old stage route to Cape 
May, Tuckahoe and Philadelphia. About three miles east of 
the church there was an old saw mill, and in fact there is one 
there now, at what is known as Pancoast on the South Jersey 
R. R. It was located there over a century ago. by a man named 
Champion Campbell. He was' what is known as a "squatter." 
and he lived there and operated the mill for quite a term of 
years. Pie did not farm any. except perhaps to raise some 
things for family use, but game of all kinds was plentiful, and 
a haunch of vension was not an infrequent or unappreciated 
addition to the homely viands of the family meals. He was 
only interested in lumber, for it is related of him that when 
told that the land he occupied had been taken up by Benj. B. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. II7 

Cooper, under the homestead or some similar land law, he said 
he did not care who owned it, as he had sawed up about all the 
logs there were on it that were worth anything. It is probable 
the lumber used in building the church was sawed in Campbell's 
mill. 

As to the towns in the vicinity of the church in 1808, 
May's Landing was but a very small village, Millville like- 
wise, Bridgeton not much larger, and Hammonton and \''ine- 
land were not in existence, and for fifty years or more after 
the church was built, where those two thriving towns now 
stand, was but a forest of oaks, pines and cedar swamps, with 
here and there perhaps a wood chopper's shanty or a smoking 
tar kiln or charcoal pit. None of the residents of that early 
day paid any attention to agriculture, except to grow a little 
rye, buckwheat, corn and potatoes, and some other few crops 
for their own consumption. They were too far away from a 
market to make farming pay ; for remember, in 1808, there 
were no railroads or steamboats in New Jersey, nor anywhere 
else in this great country, nor in the whole wide world, so a 
journey to Philadelphia in those days was quite a big undertak- 
ing The people down here had to turn their attention and 
labor to lumbering, the manufacture of tar, charcoal, and kindred 
industries. To burn a charcoal pit or a tar kiln, was a matter of 
eight or ten days, so there were at least two Sundays in that 
period, and some of the old residents, with perhaps some not 
so very old. either, recall that it was customary to attend church 
in the morning, and then go to the kiln in the afternoon to see 
the tar run, if it was ready to be drawn. When the tar or the 
charcoal was ready for shipment, it was loaded on to the wagon, 
two yoke of oxen were harnessed to it and it was hauled away to 
Philadelphia for sale, the team bringing back such articles as 
were needed and could not be procured in this vicinity. This 
journey and return usually took three or four days, for oxen 
are but slow travelers, and the roads were far from good. Horses 
were scarce and too costly, and much of the church going was 
performed with the aid of that old, reliable, steady going, easily 
kept animal, "Shank's mare." Apropos of that style of travel- 
mg, it is well known that an immense spreading, shady old 
oak tree, which, up to about twenty-five years ago, stood about 
half a mile east of the church was known as the "Dinner Oak," 



Il8 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

from the fact that some of the old residents utilized it for the 
purpose of resting and eating their dinners there, when on their 
way to church. Sometimes on account of the length of the cir- 
cuit, it was found necessary to have preaching on a week day 
instead of Sunday, and this statement recalls an incident which 
proves that though the people down here in those times worked 
hard and lived economically, yet their industry and economv did 
not exempt them from financial trouble, for it is related that while 
one of them was seated in the church on a certain week da}\ 
prepared to enjoy the services, it was whispered to her (for it 
was a woman ) that the constable had made preparations to seize 
her household goods that very day for debt, whereupon she im- 
mediately took her departure, and it is said she arrived at her 
home before the officer of the law. and succeeded in secreting 
her belongings where he could not find them, and no doubt she 
took to the woods herself, which was a very needful proceeding 
likewise, for those were the days of imprisonment for debt. 

Now. although these people were not generally possessed 
of much of this world's wealth, as we understand that word to-- 
day, yet what they did have they used in God's service, with an 
unstinted liberality. To ])rove that, look at the size of this 
building, which, though small as compared with modern village 
or town churches, is yet, and always has been much larger than 
was needed to accommodate any membership the church has 
ever possessed, or is likely to. For that day and time and this 
locality, it was a -I'cry lari^^c building. Why. I read the other 
day of another country M. E. Church, built l)ef(irc this one. 
but in a much older settled and ])0])ulated neighborhood, but 
which is now demolished or disused for church purposes for 
nearly fifty years, which was so small that at one time in its 
history, when there was a split in the congregation, it was loaded 
up on a wagon, in the night, I think, by one of the opposing 
factions, and carted off to another site several miles distant from 
the original one. A view of the fraiue of this building will 
convince you that that would have been an impossible under- 
taking as regards old Friendship. The original Building Com- 
mittee of this church were not built that way themselves, nor 
did they build that way, either. The sills and plates are some- 
thing to look at in these days of flimsy and showy building. 
When first used, the church had a vaulted or oval ceiling, the 



EARLY HISTORY OF 7\TLANTlC COUNTY, N. J. II9 

timbers used to support it were 6x14, tlie gallery joist are 3x12, 
the rafters 4x8, and the original wooden pillars to support the 
gallery were one foot square. The joints of the frame work of 
the whole building are all dove-tailed or lock mortise tenon and 
pinned. The lumber is all oak or heart pine, as sound as the 
dav it was put in. Such nails as were used are of the old-fash- 
ioned hand-made sorts. The lath are all frowed or split ones. 

We are apt to think of those old settlers as devoid of taste, 
with no appreciation of embellishment and no desire to bestow 
their labor for anything except utility ; but we are wrong in our 
ideas brethren, and unjust to those old-time fathers and mothers 
of the church, for we can see evidences of loving hands and a 
desire to make the House of God goodly to look upon, and far 
exceeding their own homes in appearance, in the facts that the 
original weatherboarding was all beaded on the lower edge, and 
the gallery columns were fluted and carved quite beautifully, and 
all was done by painstaking, slow and irksome hand labor. From 
the time the church was built until 1853, the gallery remained in 
an unfinished state, only the frame work being in position, the 
ceding, as mentioned before, was an oval one up to that date ; 
the pulpit was also up to that time, one of the old-fashioned high 
kind, with a flight of steps up each side, and furnished besides 
the seat, with little doors to shut to, if the preacher saw fit to 
do so. 

At that time there were no pews, but ordinary benches 
with backs, somewhat like those in the gallery now. The benches 
were not fastened to the floor, and were long enough to reach 
from the side of the church to the central aisle, and were with- 
out division of any kind their entire length. The stove was 
what is known as a ten plate stove; it was large enough to take 
in a three foot stick, and it was connected with the chimney by 
a long, straight pipe, extending clear up to the roof. 

No changes have been made in the interior of the church 
since 1853, and while the necessary labor was being performed 
then, the congregation, far from forsaking the worship of God. 
and true to their character as a live church, continued divine serv- 
ices in the school house, which stood then on the same lot where 
public school. No. 3, of this township, now stands. The work 
of repair and alteration was begvm in the fall of 1853. and finish- 
ed in June, 1854, and the occasion was made a time of rejoicing 



I20 KARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

and reconsecration. In 1893, the exterior of the church was re- 
paired, new siding and roof put on and the vestibule added, and 
the building painted. 

As to the cemetery, in the old days before the church w'as 
built, there were a number of private burial grounds in this 
vicinity, probably three or four, the principal one was about a 
mile east of the church and quite a number were buried there, 
but after the church grounds were opened, they began to be 
used quite generally, not only by residents of this neighborhood, 
but also people from Alillville, Weymouth, ]\lay"s Landing and 
other villages and neighborhoods ; even nowadays, funerals of 
non-resiflents are not infrequent, though the dead are usually 
those who have lived in the vicinity at one time, or they are 
related to the families of former residents. 

Speaking of the cemetery, recalls the f'lct that in the old 
days the duties of the office of sexton or janitor rather, were 
performed in turn by the members of tb.e congregation, with- 
out pay. A collection was taken up from time to time to de- 
fray expenses for candles, etc., etc. These sextons or janitors 
did not usually dig the graves. 

From the deed we find that tlie grantors and original owners 
of the land on which the church is built, were William Hollins- 
head and Hope, his wife. It is likely the site was a gift to the 
church, as the sum named in the deed is the nominal one of one 
dollar. 

The first Board of Trustees were John Smith, Joel Stew- 
art, William Acklew John \'eal, John Smith, Jr., George Smith 
and Thomas Champion. 

These, you will perceive, are all well known Jersey family 
names, and no doul)t many of those present here today will 
recognize in them, that of a grandfather, or great grandfather, 
for some of their descendants are yet about us. They were all 
common everyday men, making their living bv hard labor, and 
we believe them to have been God-fearing and God-serving men ; 
and that they were full of faith and love toward God, the build- 
mg of this church jiroves. Tliat they were mostlv uneducated, 
as far as the wisdom of this world is concerned, goes without 
saying, for public schools were unknown here in 180S, but we 
feel sure tliey had not only a kno\vle<lgc, but a saving knowledge 
of God's love, as manifested in the blessed gift of His son. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 121 

No statue, or column, or tablet in any of earth's temples 
of fame are erected to their memcM-y, hut this church is a monu- 
ment which shall count for far more than any of those, in that 
"dread day of the Lord, which will come as a thief in the night, 
in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, 
and the element shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and 
the works that are therein shall be burned up." 

Written on the deed we find the names of the following 
Boards of Trustees: ( )ne elected July 2(;th, 1824 — John \'eal, 
William Ackley, Aquilla Downs, Nathan Girard and Henry 
Veal. Another elected June 26, i860 — Charles Downs, Sec- 
retary ; George Downs, Wesley Vanaman, Ambrose Pancoast 
and Archibald Cam])bell. Finally, one elected June 4th, 1866 
— Osborn Downs, President ; John Walker Downs, Secretary ; 
George Downs, Treasurer ; Archibald Campbell and Wesley 
Vanaman. In this latter case note is also made that Brother 
George Downs was appointed to collect money, (an old and 
well established Methodist habit you observe,) and Brother 
Shimp, w'ho was the preacher at that time, was appointed to 
purchase a new carpet for the church. 

Through the courtesy of Rev. J. PI. Payran, Secretary of 
this Conference, we are enabled to present the following list 
of the pastors of the church. We include in it the names of 
all who were appointed on the charge since its organi'<i'^ion in 
1803, as no doubt previous to the erection of the church in 1808, 
these men of God preached in the Smith house before men- 
tioned. 

For a long time these appointments were made in pairs, 
the first mentioned being known as the preacher in charge, and 
the other, the assistant. The charge at its organization was 
known as the Gloucester circuit, and it retained the name for 
many years. The church was on this circuit until 1886; changes 
made on and after that date will be found noted below. From 
1803 until 1837, when the present New Jersey Conference was 
organized, the Gloucester circuit was in the West Jersey district 
of the Philadelphia Conference ; changes in the district on and 
after 1837 are also noted in the list : 

1803, Benjamin Iliff, Daniel Higby ; 1804, David Dunham, 
Asa Smith; 1805, Jos. Totten, Wm. I5ishop; 1806-7, ^^^- Swain, 
Sam. Budd; 1808, Rich. Sneath, W. S. Fisher; 1809, Thos. Dunn, 



122 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, X. J. 

Chas. Reed; 1810, Peter X'annest, J. Osborn. T. Davis; 1811, J. 
Fox, John Fernon ; 1812, J. Fox, J. Townsend ; 1813. Dan. Ire- 
land, Wm. Smith; 1814, Julin Woolson, Edward Stout; 1815. 
Dan. Fidler, Amos C. Moore ; 1816, John Walker, Amos C. 
Moore; 1817, Solomon Sharp, Wm. Smith; 1818, Peter X'annest, 
James Long; 1819, David Bartine, T. Davis ; 1820, David Bartine^ 
R. W. Petherbridge ; 1821. Edward Stout, R. W. Petherbridge-; 
1822. Edward Stout, David Dailey ; 1823, Watters Burrows. 
James Moore; 1824, Watters Burrows. Wm. Lummis ; 1825-26, 
John Woolson, Eliphalet Reed; 1827, Edward Page, William 
Lummis; 1828, Edward Page. J. Iliff; 1829, Jacob Grubcr, Rich- 
ard ]\I. Greenbank ; 1830, Wm. \\'illiams, R. ]\1. Greenbank ; 
T831, Wm Williams, Sedgvyick Rusling; 1832, John Henry Jacob 
Loudenslager ; 1833, Edward Stout and a supply; 1834-35, Wm. 
Lummis, John F. Crouch; 1836, Jas. Long, T. Christopher. 

Xew Jersey Conference, Bridgeton District — 1837, J. W. 
McDougall. A. Owen; 1839, Edward Stout. George Jennings; 
1S40, Joseph J. Sleeper, George Jennings, 1841, Joseph J. Sleeper, 
B. N. Reed; 1842. A. K. Street, T. Christopher; 1843, Jos. At- 
wood, Jos. Gaskikll ; 1844. Jos. Atwood. John Fort; 1845, Nath- 
aniel Chew, John Fort; 1846, David Duffell, W. A. Brooks; 1847, 
David Duffell, A. J. J. Truett ; 1848, A. J. J. Truett, B. Andrews:; 
1849, N. Edwards, B. Andrews; 1850, X. Edwards, A. Gearhart; 
1851, A. Gearhart, D. T. Reed; 1852. J. White and a supply:; 
1853, J. White, L. J. Rhodes; 1854-55. J. C. Summerill, C. W. 
Heisley, 1856-57, Samuel AL Hudson, Albert Matthews ; 1858-59, 
H. S. Norris, J. P. Connelly, S. C. Chattin ; i860, Edwin Waters, 
Albert Atwood; 1861, Edwin Waters, E. S. Marks; 1862, W. C. 
Stockton. J, Wilcox. Jos. H. :\Iickle ; 1863-64, L. O. IManchester^ 
1865-66. M. 11. Shimj). 

Camden District— 1867, S. Wesley Lake; 1868-9, J. L. 
Souder; 1870-1. E. C. Hancock; 1872-3. J. W'artliman ; 1874, 
P. Y. Calder; 1875-6. E. F. ^loore. 

Bridgeton District — 1877-8, C. A. Malsbury. 

Camden District— 1879, J. L. Nelson; 1880-2, J. P.. Whit- 
ton; 1883, Wm. Blackiston. 

B,ridgeton District— 1884. J. (). R. Corliss; 1885. John G, 
Edwards. 



KARLY HISTORY UF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I23 

Friendship Circuit— 1886, R. Brooks Robbins. 

Harmony Circuit— 1887. W. Yanderherchen ; 1888-9, L. N. 
Clark; 1890, Samuel C. Johnson. 

Richland Circuit — 1891, John G. Clark; 1892, Frank Cole- 
man. 

Friendship Circuit — 1893, J. Sault, A. Jaggers ; 1894-5. A. 
Jaggers ; 1896 A. Jaggers, J. Casto. 

Minotola and Friendship — 1897, Thomas liuss; 1898, Chas. 
H. Barnes. 



124 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

M. E. CHURCH IX PORT REPUBLIC 
By Anna C. Collins Fleming 

Bishop Ashury first introduced Methodism into South Jersey; 
and Xehemiah IJlackman was converted under his preachins^ in 
his father's house in English Creek, and the first MethocUst meet- 
ing, in what is now known as I'ort RepubHc, was prol^ably held 
in the house of Alicajah Smith, with 12 members, and probably 
the same number in Smithville which has now grown to 264 
members and 225 children in the Sunday School, with two fine 
churches and a nice parsonage ])roperty. 1786 Xew Jersey was 
divided into four circuits, Xewark, Trenton. East and West Jer- 
sey. West Jersey embraced all that section of the state south of 
Burlington. 1788 it was divided and Salem Circuit formed the 
lower part in 1800. There were 550 members. Rev. Richard 
Swain and Rev. Richard Lyon were the traveling preachers and 
Rev. Soloman Sharp presiding elder over all Xew Jersey. The 
extent of their circuits took from four to eigl'it weeks to make the 
round of their ])rcaching ])laces, their way often being through 
miles and miles of forests with no path, save the Indian trail. 

The first house of worship in Port Republic was erected near 
the beginning of the 19th century, on pro])erty owned by Micajah 
vSmith and was known as Smith's ^Meeting House ; an old bury- 
ing ground marks the siiot. The ]:)reaching place was one of 
the appointments on Salem Circuit until about 1811, when 
Gloucester was formed. 

The meeting hou.^e was a two-story frame l)uil(ling, 25 feet 
square. It was never dedicated but as soon as weatherboarded 
meetings were held in it in the summer, but in the winter for 
several years services were held in the ujtper room of Xehenu'ah 
Blackman's house. In 1809 windows were ])ut in and a ten-plate 
stove ])urchase(l. The house was never ]:)lastered, but was ceiled 
up with boards. In 1812 they purchased ])laned boards and had 
])enches made with pieces across the back to rest the shoulder. 
Their lights were tallow dips, in tin candle sticks. The traveling 
])reacher came once in four weeks and even then could not always 
make his appointment, and the local preachers, exhorters and 



KARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 25 

class leaders had to take charge a large share of the time. Rar- 
gaintown Circuit was formed 1828, from the lower end of Glou- 
cester and a small part of New Alills, and included the following- 
places of preaching: Zion, English's, West's, Absecon, Wran- 
gleboro, Leeds', Simkins', Pine Coaling, Gloucester Furnace, 
Westcott'S; Pleasant Mills, Green J>ank, Glass Works, Dutch 
Mills, Lake, New Friendship, South River. Estel's and Wey- 
mouth Furnace, May's Landing and Shore School House. 

In the early days Port Republic was known as Wrangle- 
boro. This name antedates authentic history. The church for 
many years was called Union Chapel, Unionville. The church 
at vSmithsville was known as Leeds. Since 1865, the last division 
of the circuit, the two have been Port Republic and Smithville 
charge. 

The first Quarterly meeting of Bargaintown Circuit was held 
at a camp meeting in Bargaintown, June, 1828. Chas. Pitman, 
first presiding elder; the preachers making the journey on horse 
back. A conference was held in Port Republic, Sept. 23d, 1854, 
F. Morrell, J. P. Cake and John R. Doughty were appointed a 
committee to look after the interests of our church in Atlantic 
City. Next meeting this committee reported in favor of estab- 
lishing a church there. Rev. David Teed, who succeeded Air. 
Morell as preacher in charge, informs us that he used to preach 
in Atlantic City in the house of Mr. Chalkley Leeds, before any 
church was built on the island. In 1868 the trustees of the 
church purchased from James B. Johnson and wife the present 
parsonage property for $12,000, giving a mortgage for over 
$7,000. This was subsequently paid and the whole church prop- 
erty is free from debt. Prior to this date the i)reacher in charge 
resided in Absecon in a rented house. Hammonton and Winslow, 
first appear as ap]iointments on Bargaintown Circuit. 1835. 
After 1839 these two places with Gloucester Furnace, Westcott's 
and Pleasant Mills are not mentioned in the minutes and it is 
presumed they were formed into a separate circuit. After 
185 1 May's Landing. Weymouth, Catawba, Shore School House, 
Joslin and Estelville disappear from the record. 1855 Absecon 
Circuit was set oiT with Absecon, Oceanville. Smithville and 
Port Republic as preaching places. Isaac Felch was presiding 
elder and David Tee:! pastor. 1862 Salem was added to Absecon 
Charire and so continued for three vears. 



126 EARI.Y HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



CATAWBA CHURCH ABOUT THE YEAR 1810 




In writing- a history of Catawba Cluircli which was located 
about three miles below May's Landing, overlooking the great Egg 
I larbor River, little is known of its early history. It is known 
that George West gave an acre of land on which to build the 
church, and he being a local minister of the 'SI. E. Church, 
acted as clergyman to his own people, also adding the liturgy 
to the church services to suit the varied creeds of the congre- 
gation. It disappeared from M. E. minutes in 1851. The 
church was named by the West's "Catawba." Although the West 
family never disclosed their ])ast lives or residence, it was 
surmised that the name "Catawba" was in some way connected 
with their family history, and the church was built in memory 
of past scenes. It was an elegant little structure. Its influence 
of beauty as well as the home of the West's went far in educat- 
ing the taste of the community to the love of the beautiful. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I27 

The churcli has now fallen into decay. The gravestones of the 
West family in the oraveyard adjoining, are all so battered and 
worn that the inscri])tions upon the stones are almost obliterated. 
They are as follows : 

GEORGE WEST. Esq. 

Born Aug. i, 1774 

Died Sept. 10. 1829. 

AAIY WEST, Widow of George West. 

Born Jan. 26, 1777 

Died Sept. 15, 1829. 

GEORGE S. WEST, Son of George and Amy West 
Born May 7, 1806 
Died Sept. 3, 1829 

JA^IES S. WEST. Son of George and Amy West 

Born April 7, 18 10 

Died Aug. 24, 1829. 



The following poem was written by Joseph Weintrob, a 
native of Rumania and had his home near by Catawba. He is 
now one of the principals in Atlantic City's High schools. 

THE OLD CATAWBA CHURCH 

Hard by the road where the sumachs bloom. 

And the pine trees cast their stately gloom. 

Where the sky and trees in concord blend 
O'er the river's silent onward trend ; 

Torn and battered and old and gray 

Stands Catawba Church by Catawba Way. 

Time's cold fingers have lingered there ; 
Left it withered in mute despair. 

Touched its walls with a ruthless hand 

And circled it round with a hoarv band. 



128 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Gone are the windows, broken the door. 

Thick hcs the dust on the rougii-hewn floor. 

Empty the belfry, where once the bell 
Tolled a doleful funeral knell : 

Or rang out in accents free and gay 

To the organ's tune of a wedding lay. 

Stx'ange grey bats have made it their home, 
Fluttering ghostly, around it they roam. 

The ])ulpit is empty, silent and still : 

Bare are the benches, cobwebbed the sill. 

The voices that once rose in prayer to God 

Are sleeping in peace 'neath the church-yard's cold sod. 

Tall grow the weeds, hiding each grave; 
Sadl_\- above them the tall pines wave. 

Hushed are the voices that swelled in a hymn, 
Xow quietness reigns there, silent and grim. 

Not e'en an echo lingers within. 

Oft have I listened, often looked in; 

All is forgotten, in sorrow it falls. 

Xaught but sad memories cling to its walls. 

There, on the hillside, facing the West, 

It seems to peer anxiously over the crest. 

Mournfully the wind sings 'neath the eaves. 

Wildly the Autumn gale pelts it with leaves ; 

Then o'er the shingles, covered with moss. 

It seems to glide softly, bemoaning its loss ; 

In through the windows, out by the door. 

Caressing the tear-stained benches and floor. 

Poor old relic of by-gone years. 

Naught left for you but sighs and tears. 

Hard by the road where the leaves are blown, 
It stands ; fast falling, silent, alone. 



K.'.RLY HISTOr-Y OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



129 



Away in llie distance the river flows. 

And caliches and holds the sunsets glows ; 

Then throws the reflections far and high 

( )n Catawlja Church alone 'neath the sky, 

Till the lights as they fall on its grey old face, 
Seem to fcrni a halo of holy grace. 

The shadows grow thicker, and darkness falls 

Like a benediction on its dimmed old walls. 



JOSEPH WEIXTROB. 



Copyrii:;lilcd 1-^03 hy J. IVciatrob. 



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Catawba Gravks 



130 liAKLY HISTORY Or ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



HISTORY OF ZIOX METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
1814, FOUNDED 1764 

r>Y Rev. John A. Xavlor 

^Methodism was introduced into South jersey by liishop 
Asbury. Preaching" places were establislied in many private 
homes or houses. In 1786 Xew Jersey was divided into four 
circuits : Newark, Trenton, East and West Jersey. West Jersey 
Circuit embraced all that section of the state south of P)urling- 
ton. In 1788 the West Jersey Circuit was divided and Salem 
Circuit was formed in the lower end of it. In 1800 there were 
five hundred and fifty members on the Salem Circuit. The Rev. 
Solomon Sharp was then the I-*residing' Elder over all New 
J ersey. 

Bargaintown was one of the preaching j^laces on the Salem 
Circuit. Prior to the year 1814 the Methodist Society had no 
})ermanent organization. They worshipped in the I'lackman's 
Meeting House. In the summer of 1814 the\- resolved to form 
a permanent organization according to the laws of the state. 
They have left the following record : 

Whereas, The members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
that assemble for divine worship at lUackman's Meeting House, 
in the Township of Egg Harbor, in the County of Gloucester, 
and State of New Jersey, there being more than thirty families 
who steadfastly assemble at that place, for public worship, have 
thought proper to elect Trustees, for the better government of 
said house ; did on the twenty-third day of October, in the year 
of Our Lord, eighteen hundred and fourteen, at the place afore- 
said (agreeable to the laws in that case made and provided), 
elect Thomas Garwood, Japhet Ireland, John Price. Philip 
Smith, Daniel Tiltnn, Daniel Edwards and Richard Devinny, 
Trustees for said House. 

We, the above named Trustees, do hereby certify that we 
have assumed the name of the Trustees for the Methodist Society 
to Ijlackman's Meeting House, in the Township of Egg Harbor, 
in the County of Gloucester. 

"In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I3I 

and seals, this twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of Our 
Lord, eighteen hundred and fourteen (1814)." 

This was signed by each one of the above named Trustees ; 
each Trustee also subscribed to three separate and distinct oaths: 

First, To support the Constitution of the United States; 
Second, To bear true faith and allegiance to the government 
established in this State, under the authority of the people; Third, 
To faithfully fulfill the trust reposed in them as Trustees for the 
Methodist Society at Blackman's Aleeting House in the Town- 
ship of Egg Harbor, according to the best of their ability and 
understanding. 

We here notice that the Trustees were elected on the twenty- 
third of October and signed their acceptance of their duty on the 
twenty-eighth of the same month, .1814. 

The second record is a deed for the land where the Church 
stands, dated ( )ctober thirty-first, eighteen hundred and fourteen, 
from one Joseph Sharp, Esq., and Hannah, his wife, of Gallo- 
way Township, Gloucester County, Xew Jersey, for the consid- 
eration of twenty-five dollars in specie to them paid, l\v Thomas 
Garwood, Japhet Ireland, John Price, Philip Smith, Daniel 
Edwards, Daniel Tilton and Richard Devinny, Trustees in trust, 
that they shall repair the house thereon, for a place of public 
worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Epis- 
copalian Church, in the Ignited States of Anierica ; accord- 
ing to the rules and discipline of the said Church, or build 
or rebuild, or cause to be built or rebuilt, or repaired or be 
repaired, a house thereon, for the aforesaid purpose ; to be 
ruied and governetl in all things agreeable to the discipline 
of said Church, and the laws of this State ; and that any of 
the aforesaid Trustees, or their successors, may be removed 
from the office of Trustee, or their vacancies supplied according 
to the discipline of said Church and the laws of this State. This 
deed begins at a Black Oak tree marked for a corner, being a 
corner to Thomas Garwood's land, and calls for one acre of 
land ; and recites that Christian Blackman, Administratrix of 
Andrew l^lackman, deceased, under a decree of the Orphans' 
Court of the County of Gloucester, made the fourth day of Jan- 
uary, 1813, did sell at public auction the said lands to Joseph 
Sharp. By this deed of conveyance, the Methodist Society be- 
came the prospective owners of Blackman's Meeting House. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUXTY, N. J. 



ZiON MiCKTiXG I k)l"SK 

The (jiiestion of repairing, rebuilding or building a new 
meeting house to conijjly with the requirementts in the deed from 
Joseph Sharp and wife, to the Society, continued to agitate the 
mii'ids of the members of this Society until the year 1821, when 
definite action was taken to build a new meeting house, when the 
following heading was made to procure subscriptions for that 
purpose : 

"List of subscribers for the new meeting house, to be built 
at lllackman's ^Meeting House; sums subscribed and the time 
fixed bv the Trustees, for the payment, being in four equal 
installments. 

"Thomas Garwood, Treasurer." 

The time fixed for the first ])ayment was April 1st, 1822: 
the second payment, Jul}- ist: third pa\-ment, October ist, and 
the fourth, January ist, 1823. The total amount subscribed 
was $1525.95. 

Uargaintown Circuit was formed in 1828. "At the Phila- 
delphia Conference" for the year of Our Lord one thousand, eight 
hundred and twenty eight, a new circuit was laid ofif of the lower 
end of "Gloucester" circuit and a small part of "Xew Mills," 
which included the following places for preaching, viz: Zion, 
English's, West's. Absecon, Wrangleboro. Leeds'. Simkins'. Pine 
Coaling, Gloucester Furnace. W'estcott's, Pleasant Mills. Green 
l-)ank. Glass Works, Dutch Mills. Lake. Xew Friendship. South 
River. Estell's, Weymouth Furnace, May's Landing, and the 
Shore School House. 

The first Quarterly ^Meeting of Bargaintown Circuit was 
held at a Camp Aleeting at Bargaintown on June 14, 1828. The 
Rev. Charles Pitman. Presiding Elder, presided. Hammonton and 
Winslow first ai:)pear as appointments on Bargaintown Circuit in 
1835. After i83(j. these two places, with Gloucester Furnace, 
Westcott's and Pleasant Mills are not mentioned in the minutes 
and it is presumed that they were formed into a separate cir- 
cuit After 1 85 1, ]\Tay's Landing, Weymouth, Catawba, Shore 
School House, Joslin's and Estleville dropped from the record. 
In 1855 Absecon Circuit was set oflf with Absecon, Oceanville, 
Sn^.ithville and Port Republic, as preaching places. In 1862, 



KAKLY IIISTOKY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 33 

Salem was added to Absecon Charge. In 187 1 and for some 
years following there were four preaching plpaces in the Bar- 
gaintown Circuit: Zion, Asbury (English Creek), Central, (Lin- 
wood), Bethel, ( Somers Point). Then Central and Bethel were 
made a separate charge and Zion and Asbury continued as the 
English Creek Charge. In 1911, under the j^astorate of Rev. 
W. F. Atkinson, Zion and Asbury Ijecame separate charges, each 
having its own pastor. During the winter of 191 1-12 a new mod- 
ern parsonage was built at *Bargaintown on ground donated to 
the church by Air. Andrew Marcus and wife. X'arious improve- 
ments have been made under different pastors, memorial windows, 
altar, vestibule and belfry have been added, so that we now have 
an up-to-date church and parsonage. 

The members of this Society may be justly proud of its one 
hundred or more years" history and say with the Psalmist, "And 
of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her ; and 
the highest himself shall establish her." — Psalm 87:5. 

The writer is indebted to Mr. Wm. Lake, of Ocean City, 
and Mrs. C. K. Fleming, of Absecon, for most of the historical 
facts related above. 



134 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



EARLY HISTORY OF OLD SHORE OR FR ABIDES 

SCHOOL HOUSE, NEAR THE BEGIN XI XG OF 

18TH CENTURY, FOLLOWED BY SALEM 

M. E. CHURCH 1857. 

AIaria Collins Thomas 

A\nien the first ]\Iethodist sermon was delivered in America 
by John Wesley, under the famous oak tree still standing in 
Southeastern Georgia, this part of Xew Jersey was occupied by 
the .Vbsequam Indians, a branch of the Delawares. Here they 
lived, loved, feasted, and buried their dead. Along our shores 
may still be found the shell mounds where the red man was laid 
to rest with his belongings on which was inscribed the totem of 
the Delawares. the turtle. 

The Delawares were a branch of the large and powerful 
tril)e. the Lenni Lenape of Xew York state. 

In 1758 the Colonial legislature appointed five commission- 
ers to pav any and all just rights and claims that might be due 
the Indian nations of this Colony. Seventy-four pounds of 
this money paid was expended to purchase 3044 acres of land 
for a reservation. This reservation was near Atsion. in Burl- 
ington Countv. Here Rev. John Brainard labored among them 
and called the settlement Brotherton. It is now known as In- 
dian Mills 

During the early period the Quakers predominated in this 
sparsely settled region. As early as 1726 there were three 
selected places for holding Friends" Meetings : Leeds Point. Ab- 
secon and Somcrs Point. 

Methodism was first introduced in Xew Jersey by Bisho]") 
Asbury. One of the earliest places in which he held meetings 
was the home of David lilackman. in English Creek. The names 
of those converted in this home would include the ancestors 
of the most ])rominent families in .\tlantic County today. 

The first Presiding Elder was Rev. John ]\IcClaskey. His 
district was not small as it included all of X'ew Jersey, and 
Newburg. Delaware and Albany in Xew York. He was a mem- 



EARLY IIISrOlvY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I35 

ber of the Conference of twen.ty members that met in the old 
St. John's Street Chnrch in i/S'), when the Methodist Book Con- 
cern was founded. 

Rev. John McClasky was born in Ireland in 175^'. the year 
in which Dr. Richard Collins emigrated to America and settled 
at Collins' Mills, near what is now known as Smithville. Six- 
teen years later John McClasky came to .Vmerica and made his 
home at Salem, X. J. He went from curiosity to hear the ^Meth- 
odist preachers when they came near that vicinity, and was con- 
verted, entering" the ministry in 1785. 

In 1786, New Jersey was divided in four circuits, Xew^ark, 
Trenton, East Jersey and West Jersey. The West Jersey Cir- 
cu't included all of New Jersey south of Burlington. 

In 1733, the West Jersey Circuit was divi;:led, and the lower 
half called the Salem Circuit. In 1800 there were five hundred 
fifty members on the Salem Circuit ; there were two travel- 
ing preachers. Rev. Richard Swain and Rev. Richard Lyon. Rev. 
Solomon Sharp was Presiding Elder of all Xew Jersey. There 
were then seven circuits in the state, with three thousand thirty 
members and fourteen traveling preachers. There are now, 1914, 
two hundred fifty eight charges and 56,428 members. 

The "traveling preachers" are identified with the early 
spread of Methodism, and were inspired with great religious 
zeal, which enal:>led them to withstand great discomforts and 
hardships. They traveled on horseback to reach their various 
preaching places, usually taking from four to eight weeks to 
make the rounds of their circuit. They carried their library 
and articles of attire in their saddle bags, ^vlost of South Jersey 
was then but forests and pine barrens, and the trail often un- 
broken except as an Indian trail. The meals of these religious 
pioneers were timed bv their arrival at the homes of the mem- 
bers and friends. Their coming was an im'^.ortant event in the 
lives of the settlers. 

( )nc cf these travelers was JoIti Collins, son of Dr. Richard 
Collins, and who married Sarah Blackman, daughter of David 
Blackman, of English Creek. He was converted in 1794 and 
was soon licenced to preach as a local preacher. In 1803, he and 
his familv and his brother-in-law Lardner Blackman removed 
to Ohio where he took up an extensive tract of land in Cler- 
mont Count}'. Rev. Collins preached the first ^Methodist ser- 



136 ii.ARLY lilSTORV OP ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

mon in Ohio, in Cincinnati in 1804, and was one of the most 
forceful and successful among the pioneers of the West. His 
name is found on one of memorial windows in the Metroi)olitan 
Memorial Church in Washington, D. C, being placed there in 
recognition of his religious work. 

In 181 1, Gloucester Circuit was formed from the Salem 
Circuit, and in 1828. at the Philadelphia Conference, Bargain- 
town Circuit was laid off the lower end of Gloucester Circuit, 
with a small part of New Mills. 

Ijargaintown Circuit included the following preaching plac- 
es : Zion, English's, West's, Absecon, Wrangleboro, Leeds', Sim- 
kins', Pine Coaling, Gloucester Furnace. Westcott's, Pleasant 
Mills, Green Bank, Glass Works, Dutch Alills, Lake, New Friend- 
ship, South River, Estells, Weymouth Furnace, May's Landing 
and the Shore School Plouse. 

The first Quarterly Meetirg was held for the Bargain- 
town Circuit at a camp meeting in Bargaintown in 1828. 

The first Presiding Elder was Charles Pitman. In the 
warm weather the Quarterly meetings were usually held in groves 
near the meeting places. Whole families would drive in from 
miles around for the all day service, bringing well filled lunch 
baskets. These services were anticipated for a long time as a 
social feature and as an occasion of great religious activity. 

Among those whose eloquence rang through these resound- 
ing aisles of woodland were: Ezekial Cooper, Charles Pitman, 
Father Lummis and others. 

The Shore School House and Church stood on the site 
where the late Nathaniel Risley's residence now stands. 

Airs. Asenath Rislcy, wife of Nathaniel Risley, said the lot 
was given tlK^ ommunity to l)uild a scliool upon b\' Alexander 
Fish, with the proviso that when no longer used for sucli ]mr- 
pose, it should revert to the Fish estate. Owing to the difficulty 
in locating deeds of Gloucester County of a date previous to 
1800, I have been unable to find this deed of gift as yet. How- 
ever the services requiring a more commodious place of meet- 
ing, a new cliurch and school, called the Salem M. E. Church 
was built in 1851 ; the Shore School House was torn down: and 
the lot sold tf) Nathaniel Rislcy by .\lcxander Fish and Milisent 
Fish, their deed dating May 25, 1S53. Mr. Risley owned the 
lot several vcars before he built uoon it. The vShore School 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 137 

House was built about the year 1800 from brick Inirncd 1)>- John 
Lake in his brickyard on what is now known as the Fred Carmen 
place. 

This school was also known as the Frambes ScIk^oI, prob- 
ably because a number of families by the name of Frambes 
lived near it. 

Mr. Wesley Ingersoll, who was born in 1833, sa\s in his 
earliest recollections the Shore School House appeared to be a 
very old buildini^-. The regular preacher on the Uargaintown 
Circuit preached here once a month, but Class and Prayer meet- 
ings were held every week, usually Wednesday and Thursday 
evening's. 

Mr, Ing-ersoll's early memories of his father, Daniel Inger- 
soll, a wheelwright and undertaker, and his mother Ann Inger- 
soll, is their faithful attendance at church, one Sunday at the 
Shore School House, the next driving to Absecon, and the third 
attending services at Zion. He also remembers David Bartlett, 
father of the late William Bartlett. walking by the Ingersoll 
residence, from his home on Delilah Road, faithfully and regu- 
larly to attend divine services in the Shore School House. 

Mr. Ingersoll first became interested in seeking salvation 
while attending a Methodist Protestant Camp Meeting back of 
the Bakersville school house in the fall of 1844 and 1845. These 
meetings were conducted by Rev. Jacob Timberman, and his 
brother John Timberman, who conducted services both at the 
Bakersville school house and at the Mount Pleasant Church, 
which then stood where the Mount Pleasant cemetery is now. 
Here Mr. Ingersoll was converted, but united with the church 
of his parents in the Shore School House. 

Ezra B. Lake, one of the founders of Ocean City was con- 
verted at the same time. 

Mr. James Ryon, who was a boy of fifteen at this time, 
says that these meetings were of far reaching influence, and 
that nearly all of the young people of this section were con- 
verted either in these meetings or from the influence of them. 
Among those converted to God then were: Eliza Frambes, John 
Lake. Sarah Ingersoll, Elijah Adams, Alice Ryon, Emmeline Ry- 
on. Mariette Ryon, Peter Frambes, John Sampson and Thomas 
Sampson. All of these joined the Shore School Church except 



138 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Peter Framhcs. who joined the ]^Iount Pleasant 3.1. P. Churcli, 
at BakersviHe. 

One of the preachers who was a powerful speaker in this 
church was Rev. Joseph Atwood. John Adams and Samuel 
Steelman were exhorters. 

One of the teachers in this school was Steelman S. Sooy, 
who lived in the little red hmise now standing at the corner 
of Edgewater Avenue and Main Street, having purchased it 
from Pardon Ryon. who in turn had ])urchased it from John 
Bryant. 

During the summer months a prospective teacher, fre- 
quently from "down East" wculd make a house-to-house can- 
vas soliciting pupils to attend school the following vvinter, at 
a charge of about $3.50 per quarter for each pupil. There were 
no free schools in those days. If the teacher secured enough 
subscribers he would return, if not some other pedagogue would 
follow. 

In March 1844, a Aliss Emeline D. Huntley, of Connecticut, 
was hired as a teacher in this section at the munificent salary 
of $10 a month and board. She would "board around" among her 
patrons. Her contract is signed l\v Jeremiah Baker, Joseph 
Ireland and James English. 

Samuel Steelman, father of Benjamin S. and Lewis Steel- 
man, was a Class Leader, and lived at the corner of Park Avenue 
and ]\Iain Street, where this edifice now stands. 

Among those converted in the Shore School House were 
Asenath and Caroline English, of English Creek, who were sent 
to the home of their uncle, Daniel Collins, to board and attend 
school. They were converted to God in a ]M-ayer meeting in the 
absence of any regular j^astor. Asenath joined the church pre- 
vious to her marriage to Xathaniel Risley. Caroline married Bar- 
clay Leeds in whose home the first meetings of the First ^l. E. 
Church of Atlantic Cit\" were held. 

Among those who were members of the church in the Shore 
School House were: David I'artlett, lohn Frambes, Sr., John 
Frambes, Eliza Demiis Frambes, Michael Frambes, Sarah I'ram- 
bes i^ara v^anqison, v^amnel Steelman, Ezra B. Lake, Daniel In- 
gersoll, .\nn Ingersoll, Wesley Tngersoll, Asenath English, Caro- 
line Enu'lisb, Talitha Sooy, v^teelman S. Sooy, John T. Lake, 
Elisha Adams, Alice Adams, .Mice Rvon, Emmeline Rvon, i\Iar- 



EARLY HISTORY Of ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I39 

iette Ryon, Nathaniel Disbrow, Peter Watkins, James English, 
Joseph Race and others. 

In 1850. there was an increased activity in the chnrch 
affairs under the pastorate of Rev. Philip Cline, and the mem- 
bers of the Shore School Chnrch met in that building on Oct. 
13, 1850. and arranged to erect a more imposing chnrch edifice. 
A board of trustees were elected consisting of the following: 
Pardon Ryon, John Frambes, Jr.. Nathaniel Disbrow, Mark Ad- 
ams, Jonathan Albertson, Absalom Doughty. The new edifice 
was to be known as the Methodist Episcopal Meeting House 
at Smith's Landing. The Certificate of Trustees was recorded 
at May's Landing in 1851. 

The plot of ground on the road leading from Smith's Land- 
ing to Risleytown, on which the church was to be erected, was 
given by Pardon Ryon and his wife, Elizabeth Ryon. 

Manv citizens not members of the church became interested, 
and contributed toward the building, as the basement was to be 
used as a school. 

Some members gave their contributions as labor, such as 
excavating ami carting. 

The contract for the building was given to Adam Conover. 
In 1855, Absecon Circuit was set aside from the P.argain- 
town Circuit with Absecon, Oceanville, Smithville and Port Re- 
public as preaching places. In 1862. Salem was added to the 
Absecon Circuit, and so continued until March 29, 1870, when 
it became an independent charge. The records state that grave 
fears were entertained for its ability to be self-supporting. 

The first musical instrument used in the church was a melo- 
deon belonging to Miss Rachaelette Sooy, who afterward became 
Mrs. Arnold B. Race. Miss Sooy was the first organist. This 
instrument is now in the possession of her son, Robert L. Race. 

The use of this instrument in the church service was the 
cause of much discussion, some of the members claiming an organ 
to be worldly and of the devil. One dear old lady said she al- 
wavs put her hand over her eyes as though sleeping whenever 
it was ])layed, so as to shut out all the worldly thoughts she 
cotUd. 

The first child baptized in the church was Annie Disbrow, 
now Mrs. William Taylor, daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah Dis- 



140 EARLY lilSTOkY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

brow, and who presented the beautiful baptismal font in the 
present church as a memorial to her mother. 

When the church was built in 185 1. Joseph Race placed the 
altar rail : at the rebuilding in 1889, his son. Arnold B. Race 
made the altar rail, and, in the present building the grandson, 
Robert L. Race had the honor of making the altar rail. 

For many }ears there was no bell in the church, and after 
the Smith's Landing school was built, the sexton of the church, 
would ring the school bell to call the people to divine service. 

In 1889, the church was remodeled, the brick basement be- 
ing taken away entirely. It was then considered one of the 
prettiest churches along the shore. 

For the following quarter of a century worship was con- 
tinued in this remodeled building, when plans were formuulated 
for the present handsome stone edifice. 

The cornerstone of this building was laid by District Sup- 
erintendent Sanford M. Nichols, with impressive ceremonies, on 
Sunday afternoon, Oct. 2J, 191 2. 

The old building was sold to the (colored) Asbury AI. E. 
Church, of Pleasantville, and the building moved ,to their lot at 
Bayview Avenue and Shore Fast Line R. R. 

The new edifice was completed and dedicated by Bishop 
Joseph F. Berry, on Dec. 7, 1913. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I4I 



THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE FIRST 

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ATLANTIC 

COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. 

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church ix thl Pinks, 

Pleasant Mills, New Jersey. 

Founded About 1820. 

Scattered through the pine lands of Southern New Jersey 
are several deserted or partly deserted villages, where, over sev- 
enty years ago, industry and prosperity reigned, but now ruin 
and desolation are seen everywhere. Streets that were once 
hardened with the traffic of hundreds of people, are now over- 
grown with \v\k\ grass and weeds and but little used. The 
houses are silent and slowly falling to decay. The churches 
are seldom opened, and some are gone entirely and their very 
sites disputed. The old iron forges and furnaces are in ruins, 
or only remembered by the black cinder piles which mark their 
sites. Three of the tall chimneys still stand, ready to topple 
over at any lime. 

Two of these old villages are of interest to the Catholics 
of New Jersey, because in, or near them, were established two 
of the first Catholic parishes in New Jersey. They are Pleasant 
Mills, in Atlantic County, forty-two miles from Philadelphia, 
and nine miles from Hammonton. The settlement at Pleasant 
Mills was made about 1718, when a saw mill was erected at 
the head of the old Fresco pond, now caller Nesco-hague. This 
drew a colony of sturdy wood choppers, who levelled the ori- 
ginal pine forests and white cedars sending the heavy timbers 
to the mill to be sawed into lumber or split into shingles and 
piled the branches in great heaps, to be converted into char- 
coal. The lumber was loaded on vessels and shipped down 
the Mullica River and on to New York. The charcoal was 
transported by wagon to Philadelphia where it was sold for 
fuel. This was before hard or soft coal was known here, and 
these were the charcoal burners, the traces of whom are still 
frequently found in South Jersey. 



142 



EARLY HISTOr.Y C? ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



Yet not all the charcoal was sent away, for much of it was 
used in the old iron furnaces and forges, called ])loomeries, 
for as early as 1766 we find a large iron furnace established at 
Batsto, nurlin.^ton County. This was the era of the iron work- 
ers, and brought to New Jersey hundreds of men who found 
employment either as wood choppers, teamsters, day la])orers or 
skilled mechanics. In 1777 we find that the wood choppers re- 
ceived two shillings and six pence per cord for their labor, and 
an industrious man could chop one and a half cortls ]:»er dav. 

The forges and furnaces were set up near the water courses 
in those parts where the bog iron ore was abundant. Thus we 
find this old iron industry at old Gloucester, near Egg Harbor, 




Roman Catholic Church at Pleasant Mills 



at Martha, Weymouth, Atsion, and they manufactured all kinds 
of iron ware for house as well as for implements. Here at 
Batsto was made much of the ammunition used in the American 
Revolution, but when after the better magnetic ores of Penn- 
sylvania and Northern New Jersey were discovered the old bog 
iron furnaces were abandoned and the workmen moved to new 
centres of work. About this time also, 1761. shingles were 
split from the real cedar trees, which abounded in the swamps 
of this district. These were carted to Egg Harbor and shipped 
to New York and elsewhere. 

Next came the glass workers, when Casper Wister built and 
operated the first American glass factory near Allowaystown in 



KARLV HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I43 

Salem County. These colonies came from various parts of Ger- 
many to convert the Jersey soil into hollow ware and window 
lights. Again with these came new hands of wood choppers and 
teamsters. Among the various artisans, mechanics and lahorers 
were many Catholics, single and married, who, feeling the re- 
hgious persecution of the old world, sought peaceful Jiomes in 
America, only to find that bigotry and race hatred had also 
crossed the sea, and confronted their new homes. Readv to give 
their labor and skill of their hand and heads to the upbuilding 
of their adopted land, yet they refused to accept or follow the 
religious s\steius that had so cruelly persecuted their ancestors 
m Ireland and Germany. They cherished their Catholic faith 
and practiced it in private under the scorn of bigots or the ridi- 
cule of fanatics, until such times as circumstances permitted them 
to build their chapels and bring their priests to have services 
for them. These were brave and fearless people, strong of 
character and big of body, and danger was unknown to them 
as disloyalt}- to church was hateful. It was by such men that 
the little parish of Pleasant Mills and Batsto was founded. 
When they had no church in which to assemble, they gathered 
m private houses, and here they met their priests whenever 
chance or appointment brought one in their midst. But as 
time went on prejudices lessened and the Revolution found 
Catholic and Protestant combined to defend their common coun- 
try on the bloody field of battle, and when the siuoke of eight 
years' strife had cleared away and the young nation had cast ofif 
the tyranny of England, their rights were recognized and re- 
spected. And when the names of the fallen heroes were called, 
many Catholics were orphans and widows. Again the glass 
works and iron forges were set in motion and another colonv 
gathered, and Pleasant Mills and Batsto became centres of 
travel. The Richards family bought the place and infused new 
life into both towns. 

In 1826, Jessie Richards ofl^ered to donate a plot of land 
and help to erect a church for his faithful Catholic workmen. 
Accepting this kind offer from their generous employer, they 
collected money, and worked together under the direction of 
their zealous young- pastor. Rev. Edward R. Mayne, who was 
a convert from Protestantism, until they had succeeded in erect- 
ing at Pleasant Mills, the first Catholic Church south of Trenton, 



144 ICAkl.V IIISTOKV OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, X. J. 

and pcrlui])s the third in Xew Jersey. This was in 1827, and 
Father Alayne remained in chars^e. hving" at St. Aug'ustine's. 
Philadcl]>hia, and coming- down monthly for services. The 
chnrch, however, was not formally dedicated imtil 1830. as there 
\vas no Bishop in J'hiladelphia at that time. Bishop Conwell 
having gone to Rome, leaving l^'ather Mathews in charge. In 
1830 Rev. Patrick Kenrick was ap])ointed Bishop of Philadel- 
phia, and on z\iigust 15th, 1830, dedicated the little chnrch under 
the title of St. Mary's of the Assumption. In the meantime. 
Father Mayne. who had fallen into consumption, went to Florida 
for relief, and, finding the climate beneficial to him, remained 
there and became pastor of St. Augustine, where he died on 
Dccemlx-r 21st, 1834, aged 2^2 years. 

In [833 we find Rev. James Cummisky attending froni 
Philadelphia. 

1834 — Rev. ^\'iIliam W'helan. occasionally from Philadelphia. 

1835 — Rev. Patrick Rcilly, occasionall}'. 

1836 — Rev. Edw'd. McCorthy. S. J., monthly from St. 
Joseph's, Philadelphia. 

1837 — Rev. Richard Waters, S. J., monthlx' from St. Jos- 
eph's, Philadelphia. 

1838 — Rev. Edward Sourin, St. Charles Seminary, Phila- 
delphia. 

i83()— Rev. Jas. Miller. C. M.. I'liiladelphia. 

i8^o-^3 — Rev. \\w\. Loughran. from St. Michael's. Phila- 
delphia. 

1844 — Rev. B. Rolando, C. M.. Seminarw Philadelphia. 

1845-48 — Rev. Plugh Lane, from St. rhili])s, I*hihulel]ihia. 

1849 — Rev. Hugh Kenny. St. Michael's. Philadel]:)hia. 

1850 — Rev. J. Finnegan, Gloucester. X. J. 

The following is the translation of all that now remains 
of Father McCarthy's Latin Baj^tismal Register concerning Pleas- 
ant Mills ^Mission, as received from Rt. Rev. James A. ?vlcFaul. 

August 9, 1835. I baptized .Michael, born at Philadelphia, 



EARLY HISTORY OP ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. I45 

on the first of May, this year, from Daniel ]\IcXeil and EHzabeth 
Dnnn. v^ponsors : Michael Dunn and Mary McGonigal. 

Rev. Edward McCarthy, S. J. 

August 9, 1835, I baptized Xicholais, born Dec. 26, 1834, of 
Samuel Crowley and Parnelia Saney. Sponsors : Herman My- 
rose and Catherine Myrose. 

Rev. Edward McCarthy, S. J. 

October 11, 1835, ^ baptized Samuel, born March 28, from 
Abraham Nicholas and Mary Ann Crowley. Sponsors: Herman 
Myrose and Anna Maria Cliff. 

Rev. Edward ^McCarthy, S. J. 

September 11, 1836, Mary Ann, born Aug. 5, 1836, from 
Patrick and Catherine Kelly. Sponsors: John Moore and 
James Daly. 

Rev. Edward McCarthy, S. J. 

September 11, 1836, I baptized James, born Feb. 5, 1836, 
from James McCambridge and Anna Miller. Sponsors : Thos. 
Murphy and Mary Ann Mclntyre. 

Rev. Edward McCarthy, S. J. 

September 11, 1836, I baptized Sara Ann, born March 17, 
1836, of Terance Daly and Sara Onslan. Sponsors: James 
McDermott and Jno. McCambridge. 

Rev. Edward McCarthy, S. J. 

September 11, 1836, I baptized James, born Aug. 31, 1836, 
from Thomas Fox and Elizabeth ]\IcDermott. Sponsors: Jno. 
McCambridge and Sam Crowley. 

Rev. Edward ]\IcCarthy, S. J. 

September 11, 1836, I baptized Patrick, born Aug. 3, 1836, 
from Patrick Monaghan and Bridget Dohan. Sponsors : Mich- 
ael Doolan and Mary Mclntyre. 

Rev. Edward AlcCarthy, S. J. 

September ii, 1836, I baptized Andrew Stout, born June 
13, 1836, from Philip Kane and Anna Westcott. Sponsors, Ed- 
ward Daly and Sarah Daly. 

Rev. Edward McCarthy, S. J. 



146 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COL'NTY, N. J. 

September ii, 1836. I baptized Julm, born Aug. 27, 1836, 
from Hugh Gibbons and Catherine Alorison. Sponsors: I'atrick 
Clark and IMargaret Alorison. 

Rev. Edward .McCarthy, S. J. 

October 9. 1836, I baptized Charles, born ]\lay 13, 1836, 
from Samuel Crowlc}- and Parmelia Saney. Sponsors : William 
Smith and Catherine Cobb. 

Rev. Edward McCarthy, S. J. 

An old account book was found in the church by Father 
A'an Reil, of Egg Harbor, when he took charge and is the hand- 
writing of Edward Daily. The list below shows the names of 
the Catholics who contributed to the monthly expenses of the 
church from the year 1834 to i860: 

John Cumingham, Terrence Dailw James Kelly, Jas. Sween- 
ey, Henry Boyle, Sr., John Alclntyre, Edw. Mclntyre, Jeremiah 
Fitzgerald, Peter McDermott, Wm. Troy, Jas. Kane, Edw. Daily, 
Jno. Gillan, Philip Brogan, Philip Kane, Jno. Nugent, Patrick 
Eafferty, David Berry, \Vm. Boyle. John AIcDaniel, John Kane, 
Alichael Murphy, Cornelius Kelh', Hugh Smith, Samuel Crow- 
ley, Arthur Travis, Patrick Kane, Herman Myrose, Jas. ]\Ic- 
Dermott. Michael McDermott. Patrick McDermott, John Martin, 
Jno. Desane, William Dougherty, Jas. Boyher, William Kelly, 
Jno. Dougherty, "Peddler", Jno. Sweeney, Owen Murphy, Jno. 
Clark, James McCambridge, Rob. Walls, Sarah Campbell, Jas. 
Tonncr, Bryan Hart, Michael McCorkle, John Connor, Andrew 
McAlister, Wm. Dunlap, Jas. McW'iggin. Jas. McXally, Wm. 
Harkins, Anton Fraelinger, George Stinzer. Chas. Freeling, John 
Hanlon, Oswald Reinboot, Jas. Dealin, Jas. Leading, Thos. Lead- 
ing, Chas. Freath, Patrick Murray, Wm. McDermott, Patrick 
Clark, Jno. Smith, Wm. Smith, Jno. [Mason, Jno. Aniesc, Jno. 
McGovern, John Mclntyre, Dominic Daily, .Vndrcw Kenan, Pat- 
rick Milligan, John Waters, Wm. Maxwell, '36, Patrick Hacket, 
•36, Patrick Henry, Jno. ]McGinty, Wm. Conly. Wm. Dnlan. 
Patrick Clark, Llenry Mison, Thos. Alurphy, Thos. Darbey, Peter 
McGoldrick, Harry Boyce, Jr., \\'m. McCormick, Henry Laf- 
ferty, Bernard LafTerty, John LafTerty, John Moore, Jno. Boyle, 
Cornelius Gibbon, Hugh Gibbons, Peter McAleer, John Waters, 
Rob't. Smith, Alichael Leonard, John jMcDermott, James Waters, 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 47 

James Cawe, John Doran, John Coyle, Darby Gillen, Krancis 
Clarke, Michael McLaughlin, Patrick Grey, Thos. Fox, Rob't. 
McNeil, John Donigan, James Fisher, Denis Corl)ley, Henry Lee, 
Patrick McDevit, Dan. 

In 1848 this parish passed to the care of Father Waklron, 
and as Mission of Gloucester it was attended by Fathers Finne- 
gan, 1853, and liannegan, until, in 1859, it passed to the Camden 
parish, under Father James Moran. 

In 1857, Father Moran of St. Mary's, Camden, officiated 
there. From 1855 on, this parish was attended from St. Mary's 
Camden. 

In 1848. three Redemptorists from St. Peter's Church, Phila- 
delphia, found their way to Pleasant Mills at different times. 
These were Father Bayer, Cowdenhave, and Hotzer. In June, 
1849, Father liayer also visited this place, and again in Decem- 
ber. A priest from this church visited Pleasant ]\Iills again in 
1 85 1 and 1852. The last visit of a priest there seems to have 
been December 11, i860, when we find the congregation dwindled 
to the following named persons : Rob't. Dougherty, Hugh Far- 
ron, Jno. Gillen, P. Bannon, Jno. Walters, Jerry Fitzgerald, ]\Irs. 
Garritt, Michael Pharroah, Jno. McGovern, Daniel Bannon, Thos 
Bannon, Jno. ]\IcCorristan, Jno. Mallory, Alichael McCorristan, 
Wm. Kelly, James Dillett, Darby McGonigal and James Plenney. 

Shortly after the building of the church, a house was built 
by the people, about 1830, with the idea of renting it to a 
Catholic family who would care for the priest on his monthly 
visits. This house was occupied by old Jerry Fitzgerald and 
later was sold, in 1865, to Charles D. Smith, now of Elwood. 
X. J., who sold it to Dr. Stille, of Atlantic City. After the 
opening of the church the priest lodged with Mr. Richards, 
an Episcopalian, and his daughter took charge of the altar. 
John, Hugh and Daniel Farron were faithful from '35 to '60; 
their d.escendants are good Cathnlics. 

The church remained closed until 1865, when a young Dillet 
woman from that district appealed to a Philadelphia priest, and 
laid the condition before him ; she was directed to Camden, and 
explained matters to Father Byrne, who made a pilgrimage to the 
spot and found things as described. The church was deserted, 
the few remaining people had lost their faith. There stood the 
little church surrounded by pines, hidden away, but in a good 



148 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUXTY, X. J. 

State of preservation, everything just as it had been left by Father 
Daly — but even the memory of it was being lost when Father 
Byrne re-discovercd it in the wilderness, and, strange to say, 
the few Catholics then around cared not to assemble within its 
walls, so that he held services in a private house, whilst he 
boarded with Air. Paterson, a Protestant gentleman, who re- 
ceived him most hospitaljly. 

When, in 1866, Father Thurnes was made pastor of Egg 
Harbor, Pleasant Mills was one of his missions. He attended 
it when necessary as did also his successor, Father Esser, "78-'85, 
and Father A"an Riel, '85, until the Hammonton Parish was 
formed, when it became a part of that parish. At present. Octo- 
ber, '05, there is only one Catholic family at Pleasant Mills, and 
none at Batsto, Mr. A. T. McKeon and his children. They at- 
tend the church at Hammonton, driving there on Sundays, a dis- 
tance of nine miles, and this for thirteen years, proving their 
sterling faith and loyalty. Father A'an Reil moved the pews 
to Hammonton, where they are still in use, also a beautiful 
old oil painting of the Crucifixion. The church was completely 
destroyed by a forest fire in April 1899. The cemetery is en- 
closed with a neat iron fence, ])laced there by ]\Irs. Copperthwaite, 
McKeon, etc. The stones and graves are in good condition 
owing to the care of the McCambridge boys. 

The earliest missionary work of the Catholic Church was 
done by the Jesuits, followed by the .Vugustines, as early as 1795. 
For 30 years they attended the spiritual wants of New Jersey. 
Father Xeal was the last of the Jesuit Missionaries. He went 
to Georgetown 1798. There was not a single Catholic structure in 
New Jersev. The church is closely connected with the begiiming 
of the glass industr_\' of the United States, h'rom an old record we 
learn that the ])ioneer glass l)lowers of Xew Jersey were Casjier 
Halter, John Alartin Halter, Simon Grisemeyer and John \\^entzel. 
skilled glass blowers from Pelgium. who came to Salem under 
contract to blow glass for Casper Wister and teach his son Rich- 
ard. He paid for their passage 58 pounds and 8 shillings. Later 
other families followed. 

This historical extract is ct)ntributcd by Mrs. Gcovi^c W. 
Leech, ( U'eihl). 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 149 



QUAKERS— FRIENDS 

Gatiierld From Tiiii History of thl M. E. Church 
By Anna S. Collins Fleming 

The Quakers were by many years the first religious organ- 
ization in The county. When the M. E. Church was first organ- 
ized in Smithville, the Friends Society was well nigh lOO years 
old. So far as I know there is no printed account of their early 
meetings in this vicinity, but their records are well kept, and 
through the courtesy of Hon. John Clement, of Haddonfield, 
and the kindly research of Sarah Nicholson, a friend of the 
same place, and information of Japhet Leeds' family, I have been 
enabled to give my readers this account of the Friends of Leeds 
Point. In 1676 the Province of West Jersey passed under the 
exclusive control of Wm. Penn and his associates. Friends, who 
completed and published a body of laws of which Goodrich 
says: "This simple code enacted by the Friends in America, 
livaled the charter of Connecticut in the liberality and purity 
of its principles." Before the end of the year over 400 families 
of Friends had arrived, from England, and found homes m 
West Jersey. There in the lower counties of the state the Friends 
antedated by many years all other religious societies, and many 
of the best families with justifiable pride claim descent from these 
first Quaker settlers. For nearly a generation the Friends as a 
Society have ceased to exist in Leeds Point. 

The date of their first meeting for worship is not known, 
but the Hon. John Clement, of Haddonfield, an authority on local 
history, savs : •"Daniel Leeds was an important man in the early 
history of West Jersey. He was the first surveyor general. In 
1698, he made several surveys in Egg Harbor, and removed there, 
about whicli date, I suppose the Friends fleeting at Leeds' Point 
was established. In 1704, he published the first Almanac in 
America, and continued the publication until 1716." What we 
know as two villages, Leeds' Point and Smithville, seem to have 
been known as Leeds until 1844. 

The Haddonfield Quarterly, gives that as early as 1726, 



150 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

there were three places for holding- Friends' meeting^s in Atlantic 
county, namely : Japliet Leeds', Peter White's and John Scull's. 
J. Leeds doubtless lived at Leeds Point, (a son of Daniel Leeds). 
Peter White was at or near Absecon, and John Scull in the 
vicinity of Somers Point. He was one of the five men who in 
1695 purchased land and probably formed the first settlement in 
what is now .Vtlantic County. 1726 several Friends of Great 
Egg Plarbor and Cape I\Iay addressed a letter to the quarterly 
meeting of Gloucester and Salem, which convened in Haddonfield 
/th month and i6th day, asking for a monthly meeting. Their 
request was granted, and it was ordered to meet alternately, at 
Richard Somers', on Egg Harbor side, and Rebecca Garretson's, 
on the Cape May side, which lasted until 1804. i8o5 Egg Harbor 
met alternately with Galloway, and were a branch of Haddonfield 
Quarterly Meeting the first and second day, 9th month, 1726. 
Richard Townsend was appointed clerk. Peter \Miite and Jona- 
than Adams, as overseers of the meetings held at Japhet Leeds ; 
Peter \\'hite and John Scull. 

1740 the meeting which had been held at Japhet Leeds' was 
removed to Robert Smith's. 1744 Friends at uoper end of the 
shore make request to build a meeting house. This proliably was 
the first public house of z^'orshify in Atlantic County and was 
situated directly west of the present site of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church; the burying ground adjoiniug is still used and is 
known as Quaker burying ground. 

Friends are ever educators. As early as the first quarter of 
the 19th century the only school house in this vicinitv adjoined 
this meeting and was under the control of the Friends. Their 
preacher at this time was Samuel Leeds, who taught part of the 
time, and kcj^t a store at Leeds Point, near the present residence 
of John .Vnderson. Services were held every first and fifth day. 
He was far in adwince of his time in temperance principles ; his 
was the only store in the neighborhood which did not sell intoxi- 
cating liquors. After the first meeting house had served its day, 
a new one was built about a mile east of the old site. AMien 
no longer needed for a house of worship, it was rebuilt into a 
dwelling and is now occupied liy Absalom Higbee. Thus after 
an honorable history of over 150 years the last meeting house in 
Atlantic county was closed. One has since been established in 
Atlantic Citv. 



EARLY IlISTOUV OF ATLA>;TIC COUNTY, N. J. 15! 



NOTES RKLATIXG TO THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE 

FRIKXDS SOCIETY OF GREAT EGG 

HARBOUR, NEW JERSEY 

IW 3>Iks. Emily Stlslmax Fislilr 

I dccrn it a special honor to be one of the number whose 
])rivileg"e it is to help rescue from oblivion the memories of our 
Quaker ancestors, of Great Egg Harl^our. 

It has been my aim to collect a few local facts, most likely 
to interest the society. I collected most of this data, in the 
search I made for my own Quaker ancestry, a few years ago. 
Among these "Fragments" I found many historical sketches illus- 
trating the origin and places of meeting for worship and spread- 
ing of Friends principles in this section of New Jersey. 

There has heretofore been too great an indifference prevail- 
ing in respect to the menKiries of the early Quaker settlers, as 
most of the first settlers were peace loving friends. 

There is no record of massacres or treachery by the In- 
dians in this section of New Jersey. No doubt but this was 
owing to the love of peace and justice, also to the liberal code of 
laws instituted by the Quakers. I always feel the great charm 
(to us of the present day) consists chiefly in this fact, also that 
ihey lived here in the early period of our county's history and 
that of itself will always be interesting to all lovers of history. 

It may not be amiss before entering into tlie history of At- 
lantic County "Quakerism," to give a brief history of the first 
yearly meetings of Friends in Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. 
It appears by the records, that the first yearly meeting, for the 
province of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, was held at Burling- 
ton, New Jersey in the house of one Thomas Gardiner on the 
31st day of the 6th month 1681 ( ( ). S.). In the year 1685, it 
was unanimously agreed and concluded by the yearly meeting, 
that "There be one yearly and general meeting in Penn'a. and 
New Jersev." It is interesting to note that at a cjuarterly meet- 
ing first held at Friend William Biles, it was agreed "That 
Friends ous:ht not to sell rum to the Indians." 



152 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

We will now turn our attention to the first meeting of the 
Friends, at — what is known by us, of the present generation — 
as the town of Soniers Point. We may in imagination picture 
Iheir first meeting, and to quote from records before me: "The 
first meeting of Friends met at the house of Richard Somers on 
the /th daw <; mcnth, 1726. At this meeting Peter White, and 
Jonathan Adams were appointed overseers of the meeting, which 
was to be held at Jai:)het Leeds, Peter Wliites and John Sculls. 
Again, Tjth da\- 1 ith month, 1726. at said meeting John Scull was 
appointed overseer in place of Jonathan Adams, dec'd." 

From a list I have reaching from 1726 to 1769, a period of 
forty-three years, I find Edmond Somers was the first Friend 
appointed to attend Quarterly Meeting (from Great Egg Harbour 
Meeting) at Haddonfield, N. J. 

Fourth day, 11 month, 172'"), Ricliard Somers and Jacob 
Garetson were appointed to h'.I ih^^ office of Treasurer. Fourth 
day, 8th month, 1736, at said meeting it was concluded that a 
weekly meeting should be "sett" up for ye friends, at ye house of 
Widow Somers, one fourth da}-, and at the other fourth day at ye 
meeting house. 

Passing to year 1764, we find that on ist day, loth month, 
"Two friends are appointed to treat with friend John Somers, 
concerning our holding meeting in his house, and to hire a 
privilege of him for that service and make report thereof at next 
meeting." 

At next meeting the two friends report, that friend John 
appeared willing that they should meet at his house, but not will- 
ing to take ])av, but at next meeting we find, *'The meeting 
agreeing to pay him, twenty shillings a year." W^e also find as 
late as 1770 the sum of twenty shillings was "put in the hands 
of a friend to i)ay John Somers, for the use of his house." An- 
other item of interest we note is a porti(ni of the will of James 
Somers (of July 15. 1695) in which he wills one acre of land, fin- 
Quakers where meeting house stands "forever more." Mrs. 
Anderson informed me, that the iM-iends ^Meeting House, 
at Somers Point, was on Shore Poulevard near the residence 
of ]\rr J. Scull, that during the life of Mrs. Anderson's grand- 
father. Jesse Somers. Sr., he made two dwelling houses of the 
buildiiiu'. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 53 

The first marriage — that is the first I've heen ahle to find 
1 ecord of — celehrated accorchng to the usages of the Friends was 
thiat of Richard Somers and Judith LeTart, who pubhshed their 
nitentions of mra-riage with each other, 2d day, nth month, 1726 
"At said meeting Richard Somers and Ju(hlh LeTart, appeared, 
and this meeting consents that they take each other in marriage, 
and appoints Jonathan Adams, and John Scull, to be present at 
said marriage, 6th day, 12th month. 1726. At said meeting one 
of ye persons appointed to be at Richard Somers, and Judith Le- 
Tart's marriage, made report that it was orderly accomplished. I 
have records of many marriages but will only give one more, as 
to give all would be too tedious. This second marriage is of 
much interest to many — who are members of this society — as well 
as myself. I refer to Judith Steelman, widow of Ancestor An- 
drew Steelman (year 1736). We find in the monthly meeting 
held at Somers Point under date of 7th day, 6th mondi, 1738, the 
following: — "At this meeting our friend Charles Dingee (widow- 
er) and Judith Steelman (widow) declare their intention of 
marriage with each other. 4th day, 7th month, 1738, Charles 
Dingee produced a certificate from the meeting where he did 
belong which was 'red' and gave satisfaction, at said meeting 
Charles Dingee and Judith Steelman declared their intention of 
marriage, with each other second time. Two friends are appoint- 
ed to see the marriage orderly accomplished. Judith Steelman- 
Dingee, was soon a widow second time. She died 2d day, ist 
month, 1 75 1. Her will is an instrument of much interest espec- 
ially the codicil, she being a Friend. The most unique article 
mentioned by her is that of a pair of bracelets, which she wills to a 
granddaughter. We cannot reconcile ourselves to the idea of 
great-great-great grandmother Judith the Quakeress, being own- 
er of so sinful an ornament as a "pair of bracelets," and we can- 
not by any stretch of our imagination see Ancestress Judith 
decked out in them, as we feel the woman friends would call 
upon the men friends to assist them in getting up a "testifacation," 
against Friend Judith for her "Outgoings" in the matter of 
wearing ungodly apparel. Just here I feel safe in saying that 
the wills of our ancestors are the most valuable manuscripts that 
remain. The}- develop interesting views and characters, and ex- 
hibit portraits of mind, far more valuable then personal like- 
nesses. In recalling the past, we are apt to forget that the lives 



154 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

of our colonial ancestors were filled with very much the same 
matter-of-fact details as we fill our lives with at the present time. 
With them, as with us. it was births, marriages and deaths, and 
so "the great eventful tale is told." 

It may interest many, and amuse some to hear that our meek 
and lowly Quaker ancestors, were, at times sorely tried hv the 
pranks cupid. "The God of love." played. I find recorded in the 
minutes of the meeting of 4th day. 2d month. 1760, James 
Somers, Jr., hath sometime ago married his first cousin contrary 
to the good order established in our society, ami friends have 
waited sometime for his repentance; therefore, two friends are 
appointed to draw a testifacation against him." We wonder, did 
the testifacation take due efi^ect and did James the Quaker 
repent? If so, one doesn't envy ]\Irs. James, the Quakeress. Also 
another youth, Isaac Somers. having "gone out" in his marriage 
from the order of Friends, two friends were appointed to speak 
with Friend Isaac, and at next meeting report that they had 
spoken with him and that ( like a true and gallant gentleman he 
was) he replied "that he did not repent, and should not make any 
satisfaction. 

There seems to be many cases like the above, but I will only 
quote one case luore. 28th day. 5th month. 1764. At this meet- 
ing " ( )ur women Friends requested our assistance in testifying 
against Margaret Adams for her outgoings in marriage from the 
Order of Friends. Second day. 7th month. 1764, a testifacation 
against Margaret Adams was produced, read, and approved." 
I was unable to find the naiue of the man, Margaret the Quaker- 
ess married. It would be interesting to know if the "Fair Mar- 
garet" has any descendants, members of our Society, if so. they 
will be much interested in her "out going." 

It may also interest the society (if the fact is not already 
known ) that the first news])ai)er. itublislied in Xew Jersey, was 
the "New Jersey Gazette," i)rinle(l at P.urlington. X. J., December 
5th. 1777. by a Quaker, one Isaac Collins. ISeing a member of 
the Society of Friends, ho was not willing to fight, but he could 
and did edit and print a paper. We fancy Friend Isaac Collins 
felt that in his case, "The pen was mightier than the sword." 

A])ropos to the Quakers to take up arms in defence of 
this country during the Revolutionary war. we extract from the 
writings of a Xew Jersey Quaker, the following: Ninth month> 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 55 

1776, "Now did troubles much encreasc, Friends haviiij^" their 
goods taken from them for not contributing to the support of' 
war." Again "very great fear fell on our young men, they strove 
to keep themselves hid for fear being forced to go to war." It 
IS well known that Quakers would not "make oath." While making 
researches at Trenton, N. J., I found a document of much interest 
to me, as dealing with an Uncle "of ye olden times." Three 
witnesses had signed, two "made oath," one, my kinsman re- 
fused, but he affirmed. The officer, before whom the three 
men appeared, added an explanatory note at foot of document, 
saying, "John Steelman, being one of those people called Quak- 
ers, refused to make oath." At present I cannot carry the his- 
tory of the Great Egg Harbour Friends Society any farther in 
this paper, but surely the memories of our Quaker ancestors, 
ought not to be suffered to perish on the soil which they honored 
and blessed. 



156 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUXTY, N. J. 

HISTORICAL NOTES 
By C. F. Grlex. 

The site of Pleasant Alills was formerly occupied by a 
hunting- village of the Leni Lenape or Delaware Indians, by 
whom it was named Xescochague. Here the Red men and their 
families w^ere accustomed to spend a portion of each year, and 
to stop on their way to and from their great festivals by the sea- 
shore. 

The few traditions that have come down from aboriginal 
days are full of interest, and fully worthy of preservation in 
song and romance. On Absecon Beach was an Indian mint, 
where their money or wampum was manufactured from shells ; 
the interior or black portion of the shell was the more valuable, 
and was the gold of the Indian currency. 

The first white settlers located at Pleasant Mills in the year 
1707. and appear to have been of English and Scotch origin. 
Their manner of living at first was almost as primitive as that of 
the Indians, who preceded them. Their subsistence was gained 
by hunting, fishing and tillage of the soil, such articles as they 
could not make for themselves including salt, g'unpowder and 
cloth were at first brought from Philadelphia by pack horses 
and later from Xew York by way of the Minelola or Alullica 
River. 

The first mechanical industry was a saw mill, built by one 
Alullin, about the year 1752. The first church was erected by 
Col. Elijah Clark and was known as Clark's Meeting House. 
Within the walls of this uni^retending edifice some of the most 
famous pulpit orators of olden days proclaimed the message of 
salvation to listeners, who received with sincere and unquestion- 
ing faith. Among the ]M-eachers of that era was l^rainard whose 
missionary labors among the Indians form an interesting and 
important part of American church history. The present church 
was erected in 1808 and for many years the old meeting house 
was used for school purposes. 

Withiii 30 years from the arrival of the first settlers, the 
original log cabins had given place to neat cottages, and farm 



I'ARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COfXTY, N. J. 157 

houses and the place had become an ideal colonial village. The 
building- known as the Aylesford Mansion, was erected in 1762 
by an English gentleman whose wife is said to have been the 
daughter of a British Lord; this lady died in 1774, and her 
daughter (The Kate Aylesford, of Peterson's Romance) was 
sent to finish her education in England. She returned to America 
in 1778, shortly after the death of her father, to whose fortune 
she was left sole heiress. In 1780 she married an American 
officer, who was in command of the military post at the Forks 
of the Mullica. There is a tradition to the effect that this officer 
(Major Gordon) was sent to a post on the northwestern frontier, 
where he was accompanied by his wife. They appear to have 
left no descendants. During the war for Independence the men 
of Pleasant Mills were prompt in answering their country's call 
for volunteers and most of them entered the army either as regu- 
lar soldiers or rangers, who were of great service in hunting 
down and destroying the various bands of outlaws that infested 
the counties of Burlington and Gloucester. 

The most notorious of the outlaw chiefs was a dare devil 
named Alulliner, who after terrorizing the country for years was 
captured, duly tried and hanged as a spy and traitor. His re- 
mains were buried near the Old Buttonwoods. This group of 
venerable trees (now falling into decay) have been famed in local 
annals for two centuries. Their great height gave them a com- 
manding view of the surrounding country for miles and one of 
them was used as a lookout station in Revolutionary days. 

THE OLD BUTTOXWOODS 

They stand like spectres, gray and grim ; 

In time's devouring flight. 
Crumbling slowly, limb by limb, 

From their once majestic height. 

Landmarks of an eventful past 

Famed in history lore. 
They feel the touch of doom at last 

And soon will be no more. 

Yet, had these trunks the power of speech 
What legends might be told. 




I \ ^ 



w^ 



Thk Old Buttonwoods 



KARLY HISTORY OI* ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 59 

What thrilling lessons they might teach 
Anent the days of old. 

Here once the Indian hunter roved 

And at the twilight hour, 
Held converse with the maid he loved 

In yonder sylvan bower. 

Once from the towering lookout bough 

The watcher oft might spy, 
L'pon the placid flood below 

The light craft gliding by. 

Here Patriot and Royal bands 

Clashed in their martial pride, 
And the dark river's pebbled strand 

With gore and crimson dyed. 

None mourn the forest giant's fall 

Save haply one like me. 
Whose reprospective thoughts recall 

Their name and history. 

Time levels all, the things of earth 

Will quickly pass away, 
Xot human strength nor pride nor worth 

The powers of fate can stay. 

C. F. G., Pleasant Alills, N. J. 



PULASKI'S RIDE— 1778. 

Five score years ago and more 
When lilazcd the lurid flames of war 
From Xesco-chague at break of day 
Pulaski led his brave array. 
I.oud antl clear that Autumn morn 
The bugle's brazen call was borne ; 
Each trooper sprang to his seat, amain 
Anl gave his gallant steed the rein 



l60 EARLY HISTORY OL' ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

Do\v!i the shore road under the pines 
Swiftly moved the serried hnes 
Numbered among that dauntless band 
Were stalwart sons of the Fatherland 
\\'ith Jersey woodsmen strong and bold 
As the famed Palladius of old 
And Polish exiles in danger tried 
With Yankee and German rode side by side. 

Not once they paused in their career 
Until the enemy's lines were near. 

"Halt!" said the chief, "in order form, 
Then forward ! like the vengeful storm." 
As the ^avalanche of Alpine snow 
Crashes down to the vale below 
They hurled themselves upon the foe 
And the sons of Britain back did reel 
Before the shock of flame and steel 
Swift as the jagged bolt of heaven 
From the dark storm cloud firecely driven 
The charge with whirlwind fury sped 
Till the red coats wavered, broke and fled 
In headlong haste to their ships again 
Finding their scheme of conquest vain. 

Pulaski, the last of a noble name 
Has left his mark on the rolls of fame 
And those who followed at his command 
Still live in the archives of our land. 

C. F. Grli-.v, Pleasant :Mills, N. J. 



The ranger company above referred to, included among its 
members three of the original trustees of Pleasant Mills Church, 
Simon Lucas, Simon Ashcraft and Lawrence Peterson. Simon 
Lucas was also one of the first pastors. He died in 1838 at the 
advanced age of 87 years. 



KARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. l6l 

EARLY SHIP BUILDING 
By ]\Irs. S. Johnson and AIiddleton 

Somcrs Point was the old port of entry for Gloucester 
County. The Custom House was established in 1797 by the 
States at that time. 

In 1800, it is said that Christopher Vansant built a full 
rig-ged vessel at Bargaintown, along Patcong Creek. 

About eighteen or nineteen years later five ships were built 
along the same creek, and in 1825, we hear of the John Somers 
ship yard at Sculls Bay. 

In the half century beginning 1830, shipbuilding was at its 
height. It is said that a hundred vessels were built from timber 
obtained from the Colwell Estate alone. The United States at 
this time led the commerce of the world, and held the record 
of the world's finest ships, and the best trade in the Mediterranean, 
West Indies and South America. A line of trading schooners 
made regular trips between Gravelly Run and Alanhattan, now 
New York. They were about thirty or forty tons capacity, and 
carried charcoal, wood, pig iron and other products of the found- 
ries, and brought back food supplies, and various mixed cargoes. 

Bassett Steelman ran a packet steamer between Philadelphia 
and Somers Point, and brought the iron work all fitted for use 
in the ship yards. 

[A more exhaustive account of ship building will follow in 
next edition. — Editor.] 



l62 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



AX OLD STAGE LINE 

That Ran From ^Market Street, Philadelphia, to Atlantic 

City. 

from IVoodstoinji Year Book. 

A\'e have a well preserved poster announcing the running" 
of a line of stages from Philadelphia to the Seashore. 

The line left Pierson's Ferry, the upper side of Market 
street, at 4 o'clock in the morning on three days a week — Tues- 
day,, Thursday and Saturday. Half an hour was allowed for 
passengers and baggage to be landed on the other side of the 
river, where, from John Knissell's Ferry, Camden, the coach left 
at 4.30 o'clock. 

Some of the villages and crossroads passed on the route to 
Great Egg Harbor will not be recognized by present-day travel- 
ers, who are swiftly carried to Atlantic City in something less 
than an hoiu' from Camden, although, with few exceptions, the 
old villages and towns on the route retain their ancient names. 
From the poster it is learned that the line passes through Had- 
donfield, Long'-a-Coming, Tansboro, Blue Anchor, W'inslow Glass 
Works, Weymouth Iron Works, May's Landing, Bargaintown, 
Somers Point, Smith's Landing to Absecon. Return journeys 
were made on Mondays' Wednesdays and Fridays, and passeng- 
ers from Absecon had to be ready by 4 o'clock in the morning. 
Those at Somers Point need not be on the coach until 4.30. 

In addition to this L^nited States mail stage line, the pro- 
prietors, who were John C. Briggs, James Stoy, Samuel Nor- 
cross, William Coffin. Jr., L>iah Xorcross and William Nor- 
cross & Co., announce that they had established an accommoda- 
tion line between Philadelphia and May's Landing. This line 
was operated on alternate days with the mail and left Philadel- 
phia at the same early hour. As the announcement calls special 
attention to the use of "elliptic spring coaches," it is presumed 
travellers over the line had as comfortable a journey as stage 
journeys went in those days. 

Long-a-Coming is now known as Berlin, and Penny-Pot, 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 163 

which, although not noticed on the poster, was a posting house 
on the hue between Winslow and Weymouth, is now known as 
Newtonville. Bargaintown remains, but the traveller on the 
steam road is not aware of its existence unless he is on his way 
to Somers Point. Smith's Landing remains, and Pleasantville 
has come into existence. The distance by stage from Camden 
to May's Landing was forty-eight miles. Bargaintown was ten 
miles further and Absecon about the same distance to the northeast 
although by the stage route, it was about twenty miles. In those 
days Atlantic City was simply known as Absecon Beach and, 
while visited, was not a resort. 

Haddonfield was a town of 140 buildings; Long-a-Coming 
a village of only forty buildings ; Blue Anchor and Penny-Pot 
mere groups of houses around taverns of those names. Wey- 
mouth was a small manufacturing place, with a population of 
about 450. May's Landing, at the head of navigation on Great 
Egg Harbor River, about eighteen miles from the coast, had a 
population of 250. A route book of the time adds that it has "a 
Methodist church, five stores and as many taverns," so it must 
have been something of a metropolis on the coast. Bargain- 
town was a small settlement of fifty buildings, and Absecon 
about the same size. While the poster does not advertise any 
schedule for running time, from what is known of stage lines 
seventy-five years ago it may be assumed that about ten hours 
were required to make the journey from Camden to Absecon. — 
Philadelphia Ledger. 



164 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

STAGE ROUTE FROM ABSECOX TO PHILADELPHIA 
By L. J. Price 

Long" before the time which the writer describes a stage 
Hne was established between Great Egg Harbor and Philadelphia, 
but this time is in the early years of Atlantic County, and the 
history is peculiarly our own. 

Looking backward, we may see the old stage coach as it 
rolled along the highway, with its driver, Billy Norcross, crack- 
ing his whip over his horses, and blowing his horn that people 
desiring passage might know the stage was coming. The great 
lumbering vehicle, with its rack strap}:)ed with luggage, and the 
boot filled with smaller bundles, mayhap a bandbox or two. 
This as it rolled along in the "40's and till the great time of the 
building of the railroad to the (our) sea, is the time which we 
describe and is Atlantic County's own. 

The coach left Absecon at three or four o'clock in the morn- 
ing, for Somers Point, stopping for passengers in the interven- 
ing villages. Bargaintown for the mail would be included either 
to or from Somers Point. 

Returning from Somers Point by the back road which con- 
nects with the road to English Creek and Clay's Landing at 
the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, the coach did not al- 
ways travel the same road. If notified the route was changed 
for the convenience of people desiring passage. Sometimes the 
way would lead by Doughty's Tavern, or by English Creek and 
Catawba, or striking the May's Landing road through a woods 
road, but what woods road is not designated. Evidently all 
roads leading to Alay's Landing merged in one on the upper 
part of the way. 

Breakfast was eaten at ]\Iay's Landing at eight o'clock and 
the horses changed. Weymouth lay between May's Landing and 
old Camden. I lere we found a prosperous town, iron works, 
church, store, homes for employees and the Colwell home. Col- 
wells were managers of the enterprise. 

Penny-Pot, a settlement of other years, one large house 
remaining. At Penny-Pot sand was encountered so deep that 



EARI^Y HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 165 

wheels sank to the hubs. Bark was scattered over the road to 
enable the coach to proceed. New Germany was the next stop, 
here the horses were changed again. New Germany was a new 
settlement. Men and women were engaged in clearing land. 
Houses were built of logs, and huts made of slabs. This town 
was afterward called Wooley Field and is now Folsom. Win- 
slow, a town of greater facilities was next on the route ; here we 
found glass works, Andrew K. Hay. proprietor. 

Blue Anchor had a post office and store, a public house, 
with the sign of a blue anchor. Tansboro. a small village with a 
public house. Cross Keys the next town, through which the 
coach passed, had a public house, with a sign of two large 
keys, crossed on a high sign post. Dinner was served at three 
o'clock at Long-a-Coming, which was generally abbreviated to 
Ivong-Coming, and was scheduled as such on the early time 
cards of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad, but for many years 
has borne the name Berlin. Long-Coming had its public house 
and post office. White Horse is described as having a hotel with 
a large painted sign of a white horse. Haddonfield, a Quaker 
town, with handsome homes. The lawns were bordered with 
box brush trimmed in the form of tumblers. From Haddon- 
field to Camden was a gravelled pike, the first in the journey, now 
White Horse Pike. When the days were long, the journey was 
ended at sunset, but in the winter long after dark. 

Ferry boats with steam power were used at this time. The 
return journey was made the next day, leaving Camden in the 
early morning and arriving in Absecon at nine o'clock in the 
evening. 

This route is as described by Airs. Elizabeth A. Price 
some years ago, before it had entered the minds of luen to organ- 
ize a society to preserve x\tlantic County's history. 

Should exceptions be made to the roundabout way of a 
part of the route, this was necessary in order to collect the mail, 
from the various post offices. Airs. Price made this journey, 
important in those days, for the first time, when a girl in her 
teens, in care of her uncle, the late Captain Jeremiah Baker. 
Captain Baker pointed out the things of interest as they approach- 
ed the city. A man who had entered the coach in the upper 
part of the county, remarked that the city was a great contrast 



1 66 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

to one coming from the pines, to which Miss Baker rephed with 
spirit that she was not from the pines, but from the seashore. 

Air. James Ryon tells us the fare to Philadelphia was five 
dollars. Mr. Ryon tells that the stage coach was often very 
late on its return journey. His father, the late Pardon Ryon, 
was the post master at Smith's Landing. Mr. Ryon would wait 
until midnight for the mail ; if it did not arrive at that time, 
the office was closed. 

Oft-times it would be four o'clock in the morning when the 
stage arrived. At this early hour the driver would herald his 
coming by blowing his horn at the top of Michael's Hill, (Alichael 
Frambes was the Alichael referred to, and the hill through 
which Wright Street runs.) 



EARLY HISTORY OP ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 167 

PLACE NAMES 
By Mrs. Richard S. Collins 

Chestnut Xcck is teeming with history but this paper is to 
give the origin of names of different points and places. 

The most prominent place on Chestnut Neck, except the 
monument recently erected by the Gen. Lafayette, Chapter N. S., 
D. A. R., is Fort Island, so called in that vicinity. It is where 
the fort stood when it was burned in the battle of Chestnut Neck 
in 1778. 

Another place is Payne's Creek, which received its name 
from the tavern that stood there, and was burned at the same 
time as the fort. From its foundations, which still show plain- 
ly, it must have been a large building. When I visited the place 
and was looking at the heavy imported stone used for a ])art of 
the foundation, I saw several of the old bricks in some very fine 
sand. Perhaps it was not very patriotic in me to appropriate one 
of them, and thus remove even a small part of an old landmark, 
but I wished to show it to others. The traces of fire still show 
very plainly on it. It must be over 136 years old. When the 
Historical Society has a headquarters I will gladly donate the 
brick to them should they desire it. 

Port Republic was at one time called Wrangleboro. It must 
have received the name from the pugnacious disposition of some 
of its inhabitants, caused by their using so much intoxicating 
liquors, sold to them not onlv by three taverns, but also by 
several stores. One old gentleman told me that when his father, 
then a young man, first came to Port Republic he was quite 
surprised at the number of young men who wanted the pleasure 
of fighting with him. But in time the better element prevailed, 
every iiquor license was revoked, and for over sixty years no 
liquor has been legally sold in Port Republic. We are proud 
of our dry town. 

At the time when the name was changed from Wrangle- 
boro to Port Republic, the place was becoming quite a port. 
Many vessels came in, taking away vast amounts of wood and 
charcoal and returning with all kinds of merchandise. Alany 



1 68 EARLY PIISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

boats were built here, and as it was already a port, the in- 
habitants called it Port Republic and the post office received 
that name. It was the second post office appointed in Galloway 
Township and was kept, I have been told, by Lewis Clark. The 
first post office was at Leeds Point. 

There is a part of Port Republic still called Plewitt Town 
though every family of that name have gone or moved away. 

Port Republic still has the beautiful mill pond and mill dam.. 
The old mill was recently torn down. The charter of this mill 
was granted in the time of George III, of England. There are 
also traces of Clark's Mill, and faint traces of an old colonial 
mill owned by one James Morse. Two of the famil}-, it is said, 
were in the battle of Chestnut Xeck. The name through the 
course of years was corrupted into the word "Moss." So tne 
road leading to that mill is still called Moss' Mill Road. 

Leeds Point was named from the family of Leeds that came 
irom Leeds, England. They were Quakers. John and Japhet 
Leeds took up a large tract of land which they bought for twelve 
and a half cents an acre. They called it, at that time, Leeds. 
The first post office in Galloway Township was held in a stone 
house owned by Japhet Leeds, and built by him. This house is 
now occ'.-.pied by Mt. Jesse Mathis. 

The old Friends' Meeting House is still standing in Leeds 
Point. It is now converted into a dwelling house. It stands 
across the street from the home of ]\Ir. John Higbee. It is the 
second Meeting House built by the Friends. The first stood 
near their burying ground, which is adjacent to the M. E. Church 
at Smithville, and piesented to that society by the Friends. The 
Quakers at that time must have been a very large society and 
very devout. There is a place on the !Mnllica River near Leeds 
Point called Swimming Over, which received its name from the 
fact that at this point the Quakers mounted on horse-back^ 
would swim their horses to the other side of the river when 
they wished to attend the Friends' Meetings at Tuckerton. 

The information I have given in this paper I obtained 
partly from papers given me by Mr. Roland Ashley; also, from 
facts given me by Mr. Jesse ^lathis who has, in his possession, 
some very valuable papers: and. from an old historical collection 
of facts compiled by J. W. Uarbcr. 

Smithville was a part of Leeds and was so called from 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 69 

the family of Smiths who once owned much property there. A 
part of the old Smith's Tavern still stands. It used to be a 
famous hostelry and the stopping place for the stage coach that 
came from Philadelphia and Camden. 

Oceanville was at first called Tanners Brook. Over a 100 
years ago there was a tannery there. It is said that it took 
about a year at that time and at that place to tan a cow hide 
j)roperly. The villge at Tanners Brook was first called Center- 
ville. The name of Oceanville was given to that section below 
the bridge at the time that the M. E. church was built which 
was burned down in 1899. The section was still called Center- 
ville above the bridge until the post office was given them during 
Cleveland's Administration. The post office being moved above 
the bridge resulted in the whole place being called Ocean- 
ville. 

Absecon I find is spelled in several ways. In some histories, 
Absecombe and Absecom, also Absecum, called so by the Indians 
which in their language meant beach or place for swans, from 
the number which once resorted there. It is said that the whole 
Absecon tract originally belonged to one Thomas Budd who 
sold large tracts to actual settlers and each deed contained this 
clause, "With the privilege of cutting cedar and commomidge 
for cattell on ve swamps and beaches laid out by ye said Thomas 
Budd for commons." 

-* Clark's Landing received its name from the illustrous fam- 
^y of Clarks who settled there in colonial days from Connecti- 
cut. 

]\Iay's Landing was named by George Alay, who bought the 
land where the town now stands. In 1810 Hammonton was 
built on the so-called Hammonton tract of land. Judge Richard, 
J. Byrnes and Charles K. Landis opened a section of N. J. and 
by liberal terms and advertisement drew many settlers from New 
England who brought with them culture and education. They 
clustered about a station which they named Hammonto n, aftei 
John Hammond. — Coffin. 

El wood was first called Weymouth Station, but in order to 
have a post office it changed its name to Elwood, named after 
one Elwood 3ilatlack, taking the name of Elwood instead of 
Matlack. AA'eymouth proper was a few miles distance, contain- 



17© EARIvY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

wj; in those days foundries and factories which have long since 
shut down. 

Brigantine I'eacli is one of tlie oldest resorts on the New 
Jersey coast. It lias a very interesting history. It is over 200 
years old, receiving its name from the fact that a large brigantine 
went ashore there about two hundred and twenty-five years ago. 

1 think that I can vouch for the authenticity of every item 
that 1 have written and have gone to much careful study to have 
them authentic. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATI.ANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 171 

THE WHIPPING POST 
By L. J. Price 

The whipping post has existed in our town within the mem- 
ory of our oldest citizens, but not as an instrument of punish- 
ment. When this medium of punishment was abolished, our 
informants have not stated. But that the whipping post stood 
years after its abolition as a penal mode, has been asserted by 
those who recall this grim preserver of law and order, as stand- 
ing in the days of their childhood. 

The whipping post was located by the tavern of Espress 
Tilton. Looking westward from the suburban trolley line, as 
the conductors call Morris Avenue, but more properly Zion Road, 
one may see a house, standing facing the Shore Road, some 
two hundred feet distant; this marks the spot where the whip- 
ping post stood as closely as we can identify. The broad space 
between the house and the Shore Road was used for a drilling 
ground for the House Guards of 1812. 

The late Constant Adams, who was born in 1818, related 
witnessing, when a lad, the whipping of a colored boy for theft. 
This boy is supposed to have b^en a slave in the possession of 
a member of the Tilton family, and the last person to receive 
public whipping. Were it possible for us to be transferred to 
the first quarter of the past century, we might travel our roads 
in fear of beasts of the forest. 

It is related that one day, as Espress Tilton was riding 
to the mill with a bag of grist, a panther sprang from the large 
overhanging branches of the trees along the road, about where 
the home of ]\Ir. Job. Frambes is located. The beast failed to 
strike the horse, but Mr. Tilton thinking it unwise to proceed, 
turned about, and rode down the Shore Road, gathering a com- 
pany of men to assist in hunting for the animal. Though the 
woods were searched, the panther was not found. 



172 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 

BLACK LUCE 

By L. J. Price 

While every State north of ]\Iason and Dixon's Line by 
1850 had set the black man free, there were still two hundred 
and thirty-six negroes in bondage in New Jersey. As late as 
the '70's there was one slave living in Lecdsville (Linwood). 
To those of our Society who remember Luce, w411 recall her, 
as a large woman, darker than the mulatto, but not the ebony 
face of many negroes. 

Black Luce ap]Dears to have been the property of the Doughty 
Family, of Revolution naval fame. Luce, when an old woman, 
was purchased from the auction block in Leedsville, (Linwood) 
where the Alasonic Hall in Linwood now stands, by one Hold- 
craft. (Thomas Winner? auctioneer). The sum paid for the slave, 
as related by dififerent people varies froiu twenty-five cents to 
two and a half dollars. There are still at this time. ( 1914) people 
living, who witnessed this transaction. 

It is told us that the purchase of a slave at this time neces- 
sitated on the part of the purchaser, care and sustenance of the 
negro for life. Luce is said to Ifave lived to be over one hundred 
years old. When a very small child the writer accompanied by 
her oldest sister, returning from Leedsville, (Linwood) in pass- 
ing Townsend's Tavern, (old Linwood Hotel), was asked by 
Mrs. Holdcraft. Mrs. Townsend's mother, to deliver a message 
to Luce, who lived in the old Holdcraft home, and by the block 
from which she had been sold. 

The message to Lucy I cannot recall. Rain liad fallen, and 
it was about sunset as my sister and I entered the house. A 
roaring fire evidently, just kindled was burning in the fireplace. 
Tongues of flaiue were shooting up the chimney, and I was 
fearful lest something would take fire. I was accustomed to see- 
ing fireplaces, but this one of smaller size, and with whitewashed 
bricks was a matter of wonder, for my early years. 

Xo one ai)pcarod, so my sister' called Lucy repeatedly at the 
top of her voice, and o])ene(l the stair door, perchance she shotild 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 1 73 

be Upstairs, but no one responded. So with darkness gathering 
we pursued our homeward way. 

The writer recalls this large woman of powerful physique 
at one of the Bakersville Agricultural Fairs, with a sontag 
around her shoulder and a knitted hood on her head. My im- 
pression is that she was employed as a helper. A colored person 
at this time of shore history, was not commonly seen. 

Old Luce was a bugbear to unruly children. Whether she 
merited this claim, the writer cannot state. She had a son known 
as Samson Rattler, whose home was with some one at Smith's 
Landing. 

Samson's affection for children was well known. It is told 
of him as he drove his team along the road, he would throw 
candies to the children. While the writer was never the recipient 
of his gifts, the story is told of an older sister who strayed in 
the path of the horses tracks, was rescued by Samson, and de- 
livered to her parents. Also gifts to the children of wonderful 
fruit made of candy is told of him. 



174 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J, 



HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY 

The first meeting- of the Atlantic County Historical Society 
of Xew Jersey, was held at the home of Mrs. M. R. M. Fish, 
Pleasantville, Xew Jersey, July 22,. 1013. Members present were: 
Mrs M. R. AI. Fish, ]\Irs. Emma Cordery Johnson, Mrs. Martilla 
Price Ketchum, Miss Lizzie J. Price, Miss Sarah Risley and 
Mrs. L. Dow Balliett. The following- officers were elected. 

Mrs. L. Dow Dalliett, President. 
Mrs. M. R. M. Fish, Vice-President. 
Mrs. Martilla Price Ketchum, Secretary. 
*Miss Sarah Risley, Treasurer. 

Weekly meetings were held during the remainder of the 
Summer and during the Autumn months. ^Monthly meetings 
have since been held. 

Four pilgrimages were taken to historical places within the 
county. 

The annual meeting was held Jul\' 2t,, IQ14. The following 
officers were elected : — 

President— Mrs. L. Dow Balliett. 
First \'ice-President — Mrs. R. ]\f. Fish. 
Second Vice-President — Mrs. Samuel Johnson. 
Third \'ice-President— ]\Irs. ]\Iaria Collins Thomas. 
Fourth Vice-President — Airs. Carl A. Hoptf. 
Secretary — Airs. William Lear. 
Assistant Secretary — Aliss Mattie Collins. 
Treasurer — Airs. Job C. Stebbins. 
Librarian — Aliss Lizzie J. Price. 
Assistant Librarian — Aliss Mac Ireland. 
Press Correspondent — Miss Mattie Collins. 
Editor — Laura Lavinia Thomas Willis. 

Entertainment Committee — Mrs. J. C. Thomas, Mrs. George 
Leach and Mrs. Kate Adams. 



♦Miss Risley resigned, and Mrs. Job Stebbins filled the vacancy. 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



175 



Trustees for One Year — Jolin K. Hall, ^Mrs. John F. Ryon 
and Mrs. Jane Fifiekl. 

Trustees for Two Years — Hubert Somers, Mrs. T. S. Mid- 
dleton and Airs. C D. Nourse. 

Trustees for Three Years — Allen B. Endicott, Mrs. Preston 
Adams and ]\Irs. ^vlartilla Ketchum. 



Charter 
Mrs. L. Dow Balliett 
Mrs. M. R. M. Fish 
Mrs. Emma Cordery Johnson 
Mrs. Martilla Price Ketchum 
Mrs. Hester A. Stebbins 
Miss Lizzie J. Price 
Miss Martha K. Collins 
Mrs. Maria Collins Thomas 
Miss Sarah A. Risley 
Mrs. Flora Collins 
Mr. John F. Hall 
?klrs. Samuel Somers 
?klrs. Isora Blackman Somers 
:Mrs. Mame H. Ryon 
Miss Cornelia Cook Frink 
?ilrs. Thomas E. Scull 
Mrs. Aneita F. W. Leech 
Miss Hannah Frambes 
Mrs. D. E. Collins 
Miss May Elizabeth Irelan 
:\Irs. Carl A. Hopf 
Mrs. Mary Bowen Tomlinson 
Mrs. George H. Adams 
Mrs. James E. Steelman 
Mrs. Susan Somers Dubois 



Members 

Mrs. William Lear 

IMiss Harriet L Frambes 

Mrs. Margaret S. Middleton 

Mrs. Sarah Somers Tilton 

Mr. Job Frambes 

Mr. Hubert Somers 

Mrs. Hubert Somers 

Mrs. Anna B. Wilson 

Mr. Allen B. Endicott 

Mrs. Elizabeth Boice Nourse 

Mrs. Martha D. Scull 

i\Irs. Nettie C. Leeds 

:Mrs. Stella P. Kappella 

Mrs. Irene C. Imlay 

Mrs. Emeline E. Collins Race 

Miss Margaret Sarah Race 

Mrs. Robert M. Willis 

Mrs. Richard S. Collins 

Mrs. Preston B» Adams 

Mrs. S. J. Fifiekl 

Mrs. Helena Simkins 

jNIrs. Susan Baily Ireland 

]\Ir. Arthur Adams 

Mrs. Emily Steelman Fisher 

Mr. A. M. Heston 



176 early history of atlantic county, n. j. 

Honorary Members 



Hon. Champ Clark 



Life Members 



State Senator Walter Edge John J. Gardner, Congressman 

Judge E. A. Higbee Carleton Godfrey, Speaker of 

Mrs. Hannah Somers Hayday .Vssembly 

Walter J. Buzby Daniel Myers 

Emery Marvel, M. D. Alexander Weintrob 

Henry W. Leeds Hubert Somers 

Judge Allen B. Endicott Mrs. Elizabeth Xourse 

Stewart R. McShea Laura Williams Colvvell 

Harry Bacharach, City Com- Robert ]\Ioore Willis 
missioner 



The first pilgrimage of the Atlantic County Historical So- 
ciety took place on June 16, 1914, when about thirty members 
and friends visited the historical points of interest in the vicinity 
of English Creek and Scullville. 

The Society members were the dinner guests of !Mr. and 
Mrs. Henry Dennis, of Scullville. 

Mr. and ]\Irs. Dennis accompanied the party to the site of 
the old Catawba church, and ]\Ir. Dennis pointed out the beauti- 
ful site of the old Joseph West mansion. 

Mr. Dennis furnished the Society with some interesting and 
valual)le data. 

Inscriptions were copied from this church yard, as well as 
from the churcli. yards of the Asbury and Zion churches. 

I\Irs. John G. Thomas, 
Chainiuui of Pili^riiiiagc Committee. 

Second Pilgrimage 

The Atlantic County Historical Society as a body attended 
the 109th anniversary services of the Old Weymouth Meeting" 
House, at Weymouth, on Sunday, July 29th, 1914. 



EARLY HISTORY Ol' ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 177 

A most cordial welcome was extended by the church and an 
able address rendered to. the Society by Rev. W'm. T. Abbott, 
of Asbnry Park. A beautiful reply was made by our honored 
president, Mrs. L. Dow Balliett. 

A great privilege was also extended by the courtesy of Mrs. 
Charles Richards Colwell, who exhibited the many valuable relics 
and curios in her lovely home. 

An invitation was extended to make this an annual pilgrim- 
age of the Society. 

Mrs. John G. Thomas, 
Cliainiiaii of Pilgrimage Committee. 

Third Pilgrimage; 

The last pilgrimage of the season was a trip to the 122nd 
anniversary service of the Head-of-theRiver Church at Tucka- 
hoe, on Oct. 11, 1914. 

It was well worth the trip to see the quaint interior of this 
historic edifice. 

A large number of the Society attended and the occasion 
was considered one of the pleasantest events of the season's 
program. 

]\Irs. John G. Thomas, 
Chairman of Pilgrimage Committee. 



178 EARLY HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY, N. J. 



ANNUAL MEET OF HISTORIANS 

Clipping From Atlantic City Daily Press, 
Friday, July 24, 1914. 

President Mrs. L. Doze Balliett Gives Sound Advice at First 
Annual Meeting. — Lands Hall-Heston. 

Speaking before the first annual meeting of the Atlantic 
County Historical Society yesterday afternoon, President Mrs. L. 
Dow Balliett urged the members to continue with their efforts 
until they had place^l upon the shelves of libraries in every state 
in the union, records of the early life and advancement of the 
county. She lauded the work of John Hall, and Alfred M. 
Heston, and counseled her co-workers never to drop a project 
until it was seen that the worth did not justify the effort. In 
her remarks she stated : 

"When the Divine within the hearts of men realize a cer- 
tain need, that will lend its benefits to future generations, the 
universal in nature takes to itself the thought, and when the 
great cycle of time's impulse concentrates itself into one desire 
it influences the minds of men into motion and action — Then 
something is born. A year ago this society was the culminat- 
ing point — and it was formed. You as its members are its visible 
expression. You will agree with me we have had but one aim 
and that aim was to give the county a correct history, one that must 
ever bear uppermost the one essential, for without it the. work 
is valueless and vain'. Its motto should be an unfaltering fidelity 
to truth. This society should not waver until they place upon 
the shelves of libraries throughout the States, Atlantic County's 
history as accurate and full as those of the other counties of our 
State. The work they have previously done we are now doing. 

"I see no reason for discouragement with members whose 
hearts are sincere and desire to teach their children the recorded 
deeds of their ancestors. \Ye are grateful to our individual 
pioneer historians, A. ]M. Heston and John Hall, for their past 
efforts and our hopes for future work. .\s members of this 
society you have need to look into each others faces with just 



EARLY HISTORY OF ATLx\NTIC COUNTY, N. J. I79 

pride. Your papers read before the society bear not only the 
stamp of painstaking truth, but more Hterary merit than is 
uusually found in new societies. An unusual condition exists 
among the faces before me, a condition perhaps that could not 
be found to exist with equal strength in any other part of the 
state. It is that of blood. This holds and links us together as 
one family. As our ancestors have married and inter-married 
until we seem not only of one race, but also of one blood, indi- 
vidual effort seems over-shadowed in the greater love of delineat- 
ing truthfully the history of our many and somewhat compositive 
ancestors. 

'We now are read}' for general good work. We have a consti- 
tuution with its charter members whose names show the strength 
of this society. We must become incorporated, we must join 
hands with the officials of this county in helping them preserve 
the historical places under their care, and, above all, let us be 
free from the deadening influences of spasmodic effort which 
dies and destroys from a lack of vitality. 

"When this society puts its hands to a project let it continue 
until it falls from lack of worth and not from effort. I am 
well aware that you are decendants of men and women who with 
dauntless courage made the history of Atlantic County. The 
call has again come clothed in another form. Its message is to 
record their deeds in the accuracy of printed words. Who will 
say the work is less worthy than theirs when judged by your 
children's children. Let us ever hold before us the one funda- 
mental law of Truth, which shall be our watchword." 

THE END 



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